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(O  *J~>(UMtU, 


IMPROVEMENT 


Vol.  30 


No.  1 


NOVEMBER,   1926 


ORGAN  OF  THE  PMf  STHG60 
QUORUMS.THE  YOUNG  MENS 
MUTUAL  IMPROVEMENT ASSOC1* 
TIONS  AND  THE  SCHOOLS  OF  THE 
CHURCH  OF  JESUS  CHRIST  OF^ 
LATTER-DAY  SAINTS  «v-v  «*«**«** 

PUBLISHED  MONTHLY  BY  THE 

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Thorough  instructions  given 


WHEN  WRITING  TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION  THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


The  Life  Boat 

Fierce  the  lightning's  blinding  flash, 
Loud  the  thunder's  deafening  crash, 
Giant  waves  the  ocean  lash, 

But  the  Life  ^oat  onward  sails! 
God  himself  the  builder  is, 
All  its  perfect  works  are  his, 
Sure  are  all  his  promises, 

For  his  wisdom  never  fails. 

Captain,  Mates  and  all  the  Crew 
Have  their  special  work  to  do — 
Passengers  are  honored,  too, 

All  with  tasks  they  may  perform. 
All  who  will  may  enter  in, 
Casting  off  the  weight  of  sin, 
And  on  entering  begin 

Helping  breast  the  world's  wild  storm. 

"Peace!  Peace!"  But — "there  is  no  Peace! 
War  and  tumult  do  not  cease — 
Earthquakes,  fires  and  floods  increase, 

But  the  Life  Boat  still  holds  sway. 
Seek,  O  man,  its  safety  realm, 
Which  no  storm  can  overwhelm — 
God  and  Christ  are  at  the  helm! 

Board  their  Life  Boat  while  you  may. 
Lula  Greene  Richards. 


HEBER    JEDDY    GRANT 

President  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints, 
who  celebrates  his  70th  anniversary  November  22,   1926. 


Improvement  Era 


Vol.    XXX  NOVEMBER,     1926  No.    1 


THE  LIVING  PROPHET 

By  Elder  John  A.  Widtsoe,  of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

The  seventieth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  President  Heber  J. 
Grant  will  occur  on  November  22,  1926.  This  notable  milestone 
in  life's  journey  furnishes  the  people  of  the  Church  with  another 
occasion  on  which  to  voice  their  loving  appreciation  of  their  great  and 
good  leader. 

The  men  who  have  led  modern  Israel,  as  general,  stake  and  ward 
officers,  are  a  mighty  evidence  of  the  divine  origin  and  progress  of  the 
Church.  They  have  been  uniformly  men  of  high  intelligence,  of  single 
purpose  and  of  spiritual  understanding.  Were  it  not  so,  the  remark- 
able achievements  of  the  Church,  temporal,  intellectual  and  spiritual, 
could  not  have  been  accomplished.  The  presidents  of  the  Church,  now 
seven  in  number,  form  an  unparalleled  succession  of  unquestioned 
leaders.  Joseph  Smith,  Brigham  Young,  John  Taylor,  Wilford  Wood- 
ruff, Lorenzo  Snow,  Joseph  F.  Smith  and  Heber  J.  Grant — each  of 
tremendous  stature  by  every  test  of  greatness,  and  growing  greater  with 
the  years.  Something  more  than  human  wisdom  has  secured  the  con- 
tinuation of  such  outstanding  leadership,  from  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  down  to  the  present  day.  The  office  itself  lifts  men  into  new 
powers  of  mind  and  spirit.  Probably  no  other  organization  in  the  long 
history  of  the  world  can  show  a  corresponding  unbroken  line  of  pow- 
erful leaders  over  seven  changes  and  a  period  of  nearly  one  hundred 
years. 

President  Heber  J.  Grant  stands  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  his 
predecessors  in  this  noble  line.  From  his  very  youth  he  has  been  a  dis- 
tinguished figure  in  the  affairs  of  his  community.  His  striking  person- 
ality impels  the  passing  stranger  to  ask  about  him.  When  he  speaks, 
whether  in '  private  conversation  or  from  the  pulpit,  he  commands 
attention.     His  activities  have  been  of  large  and  beneficial  interest  and 

Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second  class  matter. 
Acceptance  foe  mailing  at  special  rate  of  postage  provided  for  in  Section  1103,  Act 
of  October  3,    1917,  authorized  on  July  2,    1918,   $2   per  annum. 

Address  Room  40  6,  Church  Office  Building,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


4  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

importance  to  his  fellowmcn.  Under  his  administration  the  Church  has 
maintained  a  vitality  never  before  exceeded.  Withal,  he  has  remained 
an  approachable,  friendly  and  companionable  man.  His  life  is  marked 
by  simplicity.  In  retrospect,  his  three  score  years  and  ten,  lived  in  the 
full  light  of  public  life,  are  without  blemish,  full  of  human  service  and 
devotion   to  God. 

Men  who  attain  true  greatness  adhere  carefully  to  fundamental, 
guiding  principles.  This  is  notably  true  in  the  life  of  President  Grant. 
Faith  ,in  God  and  in  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  restored  gospel, 
has  guided  him  from  boyhood.  It  is  quite  impossible  to  understand 
his  notable  career  unless  the  guiding  power  of  this  faith  is  taken  into 
account.  He  has  measured  all  his  plans  by  the  gospel  standard;  if  they 
failed  there,  they  passed  beyond  his  consideration.  He  has  always  de- 
clared his  unwavering  trust  that,  by  the  application  of  the  principles 
of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  all  the  honorable  hopes  of  man  may  be 
realized,  and  that  only  by  conversion  to  the  gospel,  by  word  and  deed, 
can  full  happiness  and  lasting  peace  be  won  for  humanity.  Likewise, 
he  has  borne  witness  constantly  that  he  knows  that  Joseph  Smith  was 
divinely  ordained  to  restore  in  this  day  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  ex- 
plain many  of  its  principles  and  to  organize  the  Church  anew.  Such 
beliefs,  if  used  in  daily  affairs,  become  guides  that  of  necessity  lead  men 
into  lives  of  rich  value. 

Coupled  with  such  fundamental  faith  are  many  inborn  gifts  that 
have  characterized  the  life  of  President  Grant.  A  blunt  veteran,  who 
has  known  President  Grant  since  his  boyhood,  sent  him  a  message 
the  other  day,  "Tell  President  Grant  I  love  him,"  and  then  he  added, 
"You  know,  Heber  was  always  a  kicker,  but  never  a  knocker."  That 
was  high  tribute:  A  kicker,  but  never  a  knocker!  If  this  subtle  dis- 
tinction were  understood  and  practiced  throughout  the  world,  many 
of  our  difficulties  would  vanish  overnight.  And  that  is  a  good 
description  of  President  Grant  in  action.  A  kicker  against  the  false, 
the  shabby,  the  crooked,  the  unsound,  against  evil  and  sin;  a  kicker  for 
good,  for  better  things,  for  new  light,  for  more  truth;  but  never  a 
knocker  of  institutions,  however  weak,  reared  in  good  faith,  or  of  men 
who  build  in  honor  though  they  build  unwisely.  That  is,  he  is  a 
constructive  critic;  not  a  destructive  one.  Some  men  pull  down  the 
house  to  get  at  the  rats;  he  saves  the  house,  but  destroys  the  rats.  The 
sturdy  loyalty  to  his  brethren,  his  Church  and  his  God,  that  resides  in 
the  soul  of  President  Grant  is  well  illustrated  in  this  homely  comparison 
of  kicker  and  knocker. 

The  early  training  of  President  Grant  was  of  a  nature  to  qualify 
him  for  leadership.  His  father,  Jedediah  M.  Grant,  first  mayor  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  counselor  in  the  First  Presidency,  impassioned  preacher 
of  righteousness,  died  when  Heber  J.  Grant  was  nine  days  old.  The 
mother,  left  alone,  and  without  means  of  support,  but  of  unshakable 
faith  and  independent  character,  made  a  living  for  herself  and  her  son 
by  humble  tasks;  such  as,  sewing,  and  taking  in  boarders.     The  lad 


THE  LIVING  PROPHET  5 

received  stern  training,  to  which  his  ambition  and  fiery  spirit  responded. 
The  mother  toiled  for  him;  she  stood  pretty  much  alone; — well, 
he  would  rectify  all  that;  he  would  do  things;  his  mother  should  be 
relieved  of  toil;  the  fortunes  of  his  father's  house  should  be  restored; 
he  would  yet  compel  success  to  wait  upon  him!  Thus,  ambition  was 
nurtured,  and  determination  to  succeed  became  fixed  within  him.  He 
reached  out  early  for  a  place  in  the  affairs  of  men,  and  won  material 
success  at  an  age  when  most  youths  are  yet  in  the  play-day  of  life. 
The  guiding  principles  of  his  life  stood  him  in  stead  from  the  begin- 
ning of  his  career. 

During  these  youthful  days,  when  his  unusual  abilities  and  sterling 
character  began  to  impress  those  who  employed  him,  he  showed  the 
quality  of  persistence,  which  has>  marked  his  whole  career.  Boys  played 
marbles  then  as  now;  he  determined  to  excel  in  the  game;  he  soon 
led  his  playmates  in  skillful  playing.  Baseball  held  his  youthful  atten- 
tion; he  resolved  to  be  worthy  of  playing  with  the  winning  team,  and 
in  time  he  helped  win  what  we  could  now  call  the  state  championship. 
He  decided  to  become  an  expert  penman,  and  in  time  took  the  diploma 
for  excellence  in  penmanship  at  the  State  Fair.  Each  of  these  and 
other  achievements  was  preceded  by  long,  persistent  practice,  which 
helped  form  his  vigorous  character.  Ambition  and  perseverance 
remove  life's  obstacles.  However,  when  first  place  had  been  secured, 
these  minor  activities!  were  largely  laid  aside.  It  was  the  discipline 
of  self-control  and  of  doing  one's  very  best  that  the  young  man 
sought.  President  Grant  has  ever  been  mindful  of  relative  values,  and 
he  has  not  allowed  himself  to  become  submerged  permanently  in  the 
minor  issues  of  life. 

Naturally,  a  young  man  of  such  faith,  fidelity,  ambition  and 
perseverance,  attracts  attention.  When  just  under  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  he  was  called  to  be  the  president  of  the  Tooele  stake  of  Zion. 
To  this  calling  he  gave  his  utmost  endeavors.  His  time,  strength  and 
means  were  spent  in  behalf  of  the  people  who  had  been  placed  under 
his  care.  Then,  about  two  years  later,  he  was  called  into  the  Council 
of  Twelve  Apostles.  As  he  had  been  one  of  the  youngest  stake  presi- 
dents, so  he  was  one  of  the  youngest  men  called  to  the  apostleship. 
When  these  calls  came,  the  powers  of  President  Grant  were  maturing. 
He  stood  on  the  threshold  of  what  promised  to  be  the  most  successful 
financial  career  in  the  State.  That  which  the  world  holds  of  highest 
value  lay,  as  it  were,  within  his  grasp.  The  call  of  the  Church  implied 
probable  sacrifice  of  worldly  success;  yet  his  choice  was  never  in 
doubt.  Was  not  the  Master's  work  of  first  importance?  So,  this 
man,  who  now  leads  the  Church,  laid  down  the  common  ambition  of 
men;  took  upon  himself  the  burden  of  human  lives;  and,  instead  of 
accumulating  dollars,  set  out  to  spend  his  life  in  saving  souls  for  the 
cause  of  God.  He  did  not  view  his  decision  as  a  sacrifice.  He  recog- 
nized that  service  to  God  is  man's  greatest  opportunity.  Humbly,  he 
wondered  if  he  were  worthy  of  so  great  a  calling.      He  was  bowed 


6  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

down  with  the  feeling  of  his  own  weakness  in  standing  before  God 
and  men  as  a  special  witness  of  the  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  until  a  com- 
forting assurance  came  to  him  one  day  in  the  wilderness.  Is  not  this  a 
lesson  to  us  all?  Do  we  give  freely  of  ourselves  to  God's  latter-day 
cause?  Do  we  understand  the  relative  value  of  the  opportunities 
of   life? 

Into  the  work  of  the  ministry  he  entered  with  full  zest.  His 
indefatigable  labors  among  the  stakes  of  -Zion  are  known  to  young 
and  old.  He  preached  .righteousness  with  a  direct  courage  and  frank- 
ness never  surpassed.  His  financial  affairs  tumbled  to  the  ground 
at  times;  but  the  spiritual  leader,  Heber  J.  Grant,  never  wavered  from 
the  course  of  his  duty.  When  large  public  questions  arose,  answer- 
able by  the  laws  of  the  gospel,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  take  sides.  And 
when  he  fights,  he  fights  to  the  finish.  As  a  believer  in  the  Word 
of  Wisdom,  he  fought  for  prohibition  until  it  was  won;  first  in  the 
state,  and  later  in  the  nation.  No  one  man  did  more  to  win  prohi- 
bition for  Utah  than  did  President  Grant.  Here,  again,  his  life  is 
a  lesson  to  all.     Safety  lies  in  directing  all  our  actions  by  the  gospel  rule. 

He  was  called  to  open  the  Japanese  mission;  and  was  successful  in 
laying  foundations  upon  which  much  useful  work  was  done,  and  more 
will  be  done.  He  served  as  president  of  the  European  mission,  and  ad- 
ministered well  the  affairs  of  the  Church  in  Europe,  and  won  the 
abiding  love  and  confidence  of  the  elders  who  labored  with  him.  As 
a  general  officer  of  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improvement  Associa- 
tion, he  spared  no  effort  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the  membership  of 
the  Association.  He  has  an  energizing  touch.  People  follow  his 
leadership.  Intelligence,  courage  and  devotion  have  carried  his  labors 
to  success. 

In  the  midst  of  the  consuming,  spiritual  duties  of  his  office,  he  has 
always  kept  close  to  the  temporal  affairs  of  the  people.  His  business 
genius  and  experience  have  been  used  more  for  the  benefit  of  the  people 
than  for  himself.  The  value  of  this  training  has  often  been  evident, 
as  in  the  panic  of  1893,  but  especially  in  the  hard  years ,after  the  war, 
when  several  important  industrial  enterprises  were  about  to  fail,  to  the 
great  distress  of  the  people  scattered  far  and  wide  over  the  Church. 
Then  the  financial  courage  and  acumen  of  President  Grant  saved 
these  institutions  from  failure.  The  Church  as  a  whole  has  prospered 
materially  under  his  wise  understanding  of  the"  intricacies  of  business. 

Every  man  who  can  be  accounted  great,  particularly  in  the  spiritual 
domain,  .responds  quickly  and  deeply  to  the  world  of  creative,  artistic, 
and  aesthetic  impulses.  This  is  notably  true  of  President  Grant. 
Astigmatic  eyes  made  reading  painful  in  his  early  days;  yet  he  has 
read  and  reads  much  more  than  the  average  man,  and  his  love  of  books 
is  an  exquisite  commentary  on  his  character.  True  to  his  generous 
nature,  the  very  essence  of  his  life,  he  likes  to  pass  on  to  others  that 
which  he  finds  good.  Consequently,  he  has  become  the  greatest  giver 
of  good  books  ever  known  in  the  Church.     The  responsibilities  of  his 


THE  LIVING  PROPHET  7 

youth  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  secure  an  extended  school  educa- 
tion; but  his  support  has  ever  been  given  to  schools  and  other  means  by 
which  knowledge  of  truth  may  become  easily  available  to  all.  The 
Latter-day  Saints  University  and  the  University  of  Utah  both  have 
received  substantial  gifts  from  him  for  the  assistance  of  worthy  students 
who  find  themselves  without  sufficient  funds  to  continue  their  work. 
And,  these  endowments  were  made  in  the  day  of  his  own  financial  dis- 
tress! Under  his  administration  the  funds  of  the  Church  have  been 
used  most  liberally  to  foster  education.  Works  of  painting  and  sculpture 
have  ever  appealed  to  him.  The  artists  of  the  Church  and  State  have 
had  in  him  a  strong  and  active  friend,  and  they  testify  to  the  help  he 
has  given  them  in  money  and  encouragement.  At  one  time  President 
Grant  controlled  one  of  the  daily  newspapers  of  Salt  Lake  City,  and  has 
always  given  support  to  popular  education  through  the  public  press. 
He  loves  Nature  in  her  many  moods,  and  has  helped  make  the  beauty 
spots  of  the  West  more  available  to  the  people.  His  soul  responds  to 
beauty. 

But,  his  greatest  love  has  always  been  humanity.  The  children  of 
his  heavenly  Father  have  been  his  life's  concern.  They  do  him  wrong 
who  class  him  primarily  as  one  interested  in  temporal  affairs.  Since  his 
early  call  into  the  ministry,  his  every  act  has  been  influenced  by  his 
spiritual  mission.  This  love  has  manifested  itself,  not  merely  in  a 
general  concern  for  all  mankind,  but  in  a  care  for  individuals.  The 
poor  and  the  needy  have  always  received  of  his  bounty.  The.  quick 
response  of  his  heart  to  those  in  distress  is  a  commonplace  among  his 
associates.  Money  has  been  given,  as  also  the  personal  help  that  the 
strong  may  give  the  weak.  President  Grant  is  generous  to  a  fault, 
charitable  to  the  full  limit  of  his  power,  and  naturally,  therefore,  true 
to  his  friends  and  loving  to  his  family.  He  stands  in  his  high  office 
with  love  in  his  soul  for  all  people,  urging  upon  all  men  to  cast  out 
selfish  desire.  At  the  conference  just  closed,  the  spirit  of  his  address 
was  not  merely  that  we  as  a  people  might  be  prospered,  but  that  we  as 
a  people  might  give  of  our  strength  to  bring  the  good  tidings  of  the 
gospel  to  all  the  world. 

This  is  not  a  biographical  sketch;  nor  does  space  permit  a  com- 
prehensive study  of  the  man  who,  under  the  direction  of  the  Almighty, 
now  leads  the  Church.  Some  years  ago  his  colleagues  among  the  general 
authorities  were  asked  to  write  tributes  to  his  character.  They  said  that 
he  was  full  of  faith  in  God,  full  of  love  for  his  fellowmen,  sympathetic, 
generous  and  charitable,  direct,  frank  and  truthful,  courageous,  sagacious 
and  persevering,  punctual,  practical  and  energetic,  a  splendid  organizer, 
and,  above  all,  a  real  man. 

That  is  the  best  description,  a  real  man;  for  it  is  neither  flattery 
nor  fulsome  praise  to  say  that,  in  the  providences  of  the  Lord,  a  man  of 
vision  and  breadth,  a  rounded  man,  with  such  varied  interests  and  ex- 
periences that  he  can  sense  the  needs  of  our  complex  world,  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  Church.  He  is  not  a  faultless  man.     In  fact,  the  people 


8  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

rejoice  that  with  his  virtues  he  is  human,  so  that  he  may  recognize 
human  needs.  But,  the  test  of  manhood  is  whether  the  virtues  over- 
shadow the  faults;  and  in  the  case  of  this  man  the  virtues  are  many  and 
large,  and  the  faults  few  and  small. 

Heber  J.  Grant  stands  as  president,  prophet,  seer  and  revelator  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  To  the  people  of  the 
Church  he  is  the  mouthpiece  of  God.  He  bears  aloft  the  easign  of 
truth  before  the  Church  and  all  nations.  His  testimony  of  the  divinity 
of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  the  restored  gospel  pierces  the  soul  with  its  thrill- 
ing earnestness.  Under  his  leadership  the  Church  is  moving  onward 
rapidly.  Faith  abounds  among  the  people.  The  teachings  that  come 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Prophet  are  being  followed  with  benefit  to  the 
members  of  the  Church.  The  evidence  of  inspiration  accompanies  his 
official  acts.  The  people  of  the  Church  understand  that  the  Lord  ac- 
complishes his  purposes  through  earthly  instruments — men  and  women 
— often  weak  and  imperfect;  but  that  if  leaders  and  people  support  one 
another,  and  render  obedience  to  the  revealed  law,  all  that  may  be  said 
or  done  will  be  overruled  for  the  good  of  the  great  latter-day  cause.  It 
is  a  joy  to  know  that  those  who  are  called  to  lead  Israel  meet  human 
and  divine  standards.  Those  who  are  closely  associated  with  Presi-  \ 
dent  Grant  know,  and  do  so  testify,  that,  when  in  the  exercise  of  his 
calling,  he  towers  in  judgment  and  power  far  above  the  greatest  of  his 
colleagues.  This  is  a  marvelous  testimony  to  the  presence  of  the 
power  of  God  that  has  directed  this  people  from  the  beginning. 

The  Church  is  grateful  for  the  life,  example  and  presence  of 
President  Grant.  He  has  given  his  life  and  strength,  his  all,  to  the 
cause  of  the  Church.  His  reward  on  earth  is  the  love  and  prayers 
of  a  mighty  people.  May  his  life  be  lengthened  out,  and  his  labors 
continue  to  be  joyful! 


Thanksgiving 


Thank  God   for   the   wind-swept  commons. 

And  the  gold  of  the  Autumn  sun, 
For  the  frost  that  opens  the  chestnuts, 

And  the  joy  of  a  task  well  done. 

Thank  God  for  the  fluttering  snow  flakes 

Which  blanket  the  freezing  earth, 
For  the  little,   white-breasted  snow  birds 

That  welcome  Winter's  birth. 

Thank  God  for  abundant  harvest. 

The  sunset  of  garnering's  day, 
The  fireglow  that  cheers  the  evening, 

And  turns  dull  care  away. 

Thank  God  for  friendships  proving, 

For  the  smile  of  a  little  child, 
For  the  love  that  endures  through  Autumn 
And  Winter's  snow — high  piled. 
ock  Island,  Illinois.  A.  HENDERSON. 


PRESIDENT  HEBER  J.  GRANT'S 
SEVENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 

Seventy  years  will  have  passed  since  our  beloved  leader,  President 
Heber  J.  Grant,  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City,  November  22,  1856.  He 
was  the  first  native  son  of  Utah  chosen  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the  Council 
of  the  Twelve.  He  is  also  the  first  native  son  of  the  State  to  act  as 
President  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 

Darwin  T.  Kingsley,  president  of  the  New  York  Life  Insur- 
ance Company,  wrote  a  book  some  years  ago,  entitled,  [Let  Us  Have 
Peace,  a  choice  book  of  more  than  four  hundred  pages  of  his  col- 
lected magazine  articles  and  other  addresses  on  peace,  business,  and  on 
conditions  that  prevailed  before,  during,  and  immediately  following 
the  World  War.  This  great  financier  and  thoughtful  author,  in 
presenting  a  copy  to  President  Heber  J.  Grant,  wrote  on  the  flyleaf  of 
the  book: 

"To  Heber  J.  Grant,  patriot,  pioneer  and  president,  with 
great  respect. — D.   T.  Kingsley." 

What  was  stated  then  concerning  President  Grant  is  not  over- 
drawn, and  applies  with  even  greater  emphasis  today.  He  is  a  respected 
patriot,  pioneer  and  president.  Life  is  a  battle  seemingly  no  less  cruel 
and  deadly,  so  it  has  been  said,  than  have  been  or  may  be  the  wars  of 
the  nations.  He  who  survives  in  its  battles  is  among  the  strong  and 
wise  and  just.  When  a  man  reaches  three  score  and  ten  years  and  has 
stood  the  fire  of  the  long  fight,  attaining  the  summit  in  victory, 
vigor  of  spirit  and  strength  of  mind  and  body,  as  has  President  Grant, 
he  is  a  veteran  to  be  respected.  He  stands  with  honor  in  his  position, 
and  that  because  of  his  achievement  over  obstacles;  because  of  his 
love  for  the  people,  his  loyalty  to  God  and  to  his  country;  because 
of  his  victory  in  moral  and  religious  achievements;  his  triumph  over 
adverse  things,  and  the  undoubted  integrity  of  his  character.  He  has 
proved  ia  clean  hero  in  the  conflict  with  evil,  both  past  and  present. 
He  has  fought  an  honest,  fair  fight,  through  seventy  years  of  struggle. 
In  recent  years,  by  the  help  and  inspiration  of  the  Lord,  he  has  solved 
in  wisdom  the  complex  and  pften  vexatious  problems  of  his  people. 
He  bears  the  scars  of  honorable  combat.  He  is  true  to  the  faith,  and  a 
patriot  in  the  greatest  nation  on  earth.  As  a  native  son  of  these  moun- 
tain fastnesses,  he  is  a  born  pioneer  in  this  "marvelous  work  and 
a  wonder"  established  of  the  Lord.  He  is  thus  the  honored  and 
beloved  leader  of  a  grateful  and  happy  people,  who  appreciate  him 
because  of  his  open,  free,  charitable,  sympathetic  and  lovable  qualities. 

It  is  said  that  self-indulgence  takes  the  wheels  off  character;  but 
in  all  his  career,  self-denial  for  the  advancement  and  blessing  of  others 
has  been  President  Grant's  practice.     His  character  is    untrammeled  by 


10  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

anything  that  could  in  any  way  be  styled  self-indulgence.  He  shows 
great  tolerance  with  the  views  and  opinions  of  others,  but  is  heart-of- 
oak  against  sin  and  evil.  No  man  in  the  Church  has  been  a  greater 
champion  of  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  clean  living  and  clean  morals, 
both  by  example  and  precept,  than  President  Heber  J.  Grant.  He 
has  kept  widely  apart  from  iniquity,  and  in  that  /way  the  laurels  for 
his  brow  have  been  woven  by  his  people  from  his  own  clean  life 
and  consuming  passion  for  righteousness. 

On  the  event  of  his  seventieth  aniversary,  his  many  thousand 
friends  will  join  the  Improvement  Era  office  force  in  congratulating  and 
upholding  our  beloved  .President,  arid  wish  him  many  years  yet  of 
activity  [in  his  exalted  calling. 

President  Grant  illustrates  the  efficacy  of  faith,  the  divinity  of 
the  great  latter-day  work  of  God,  and  the  power  of  the  Priesthood, 
by  repeating  apt  stories,  from  time  to  time,  in  his  sermons,  which  may 
be  read  with  profit  and  interest  by  all  who  desire  to  be  built  up 
spiritually  in  the  faith.  We  select  a  few  examples  for  this  occasion 
that,    in  our  opinion,   are  especially  characteristic:. 

The  Fruits  of  the  Gospel 

The  first  man  baptized  in  the  German  Empire  was  Karl  G. 
Maeser,  the  man  who  stood  at  the  head  of  the  Church  school  system, 
from  Canada  on  the  north  down  to  Mexico  on  the  south,  and  was 
known  as  the  grand  old  man  of  the  educational  system  of  the  Church. 
When  Karl  G.  Maeser  was  baptized,  Elder  Franklin  D.  Richards  was 
the  president  of  the  European  missions.  He  went  from  Liverpool,  the 
headquarters  of  the  mission,  to  be  present  at  the  first  baptism  of  the 
first  persons  converted  to  the  .gospel  in  Germany.  There  were 
Brother  Maeser  and  his  brother-in-law  and  quite  a  large  crowd  of  them. 
The  man,  through  whose  instrumentality  they  were  converted,  and 
who  spoke  German,  was  Brother  William  Budge,  afterwards  president 
of  the  Logan  Temple. 

As  I  was  going  with  Brother  Maeser  up  into  Oregon  to  visit 
one  of  the  conferences  there,  he  told  me  about  it  with  his  own  lips.  He 
said:  "Heber,  when  I  came  out  of  the  waters  of  baptism  I  looked 
up  into  heaven,  and  said,  'O  Lord,  I  have  accepted  what  I  believe  to 
be  in  very  deed  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Give  me  a  witness 
of  the  divinity  of  the  work;  give  me  a  knowledge  and  a  testimony  of 
this  work  that  I  have  embraced,  and  I  pledge  you  here  this  night  to  give, 
if  necessary,  my  life  for  its  advancement.'  After  the  others  were  bap- 
tized and  we  were  walking  back  to  Dresden  [they  had  come  out 
several  miles  from  Dresden  to  be  baptized],  I  asked  questions  of  Apos- 
tle Richards.  Brother  Budge  interpreted  them;  and  when  the  answer 
was  given,  he  interpreted  it  back  into  German  for  me.  Pretty  soon 
President    Richards    said,     'Don't    interpret    those    questions,    Brother 


PRESIDENT  GRANT'S   SEVENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  11 

Budge.  I  understand  them  perfectly.'  And  then  immediately  after- 
wards I  turned  to  him  and  said,  'Don't  interpret  those  answers.  I 
understand  them  perfectly.'  We  walked  on  for  several  miles,"  con- 
tinued Brother  Maeser.  "I  asked  questions  in  German,  and  President 
Franklin  D.  Richards  answered  them  in  English.  He  did  not  under- 
stand German.  I  did  not  understand  English.  And,  yet,  we  under- 
stood each  other  perfectly.  Finally  we  came  to  the  river  Elbe,  and  as 
we  were  crossing  a  bridge  over  that  river  we  became  separated,  and 
when  we  reached  the  other  side  of  the  jriver  I  asked  another  question, 
and  Brother  Richards  said,  'Interpret  it,  Brother  Budge;  I  do  not 
understand  it.'  And  when  the  answer  came,  I  said,  'Interpret  it, 
Brother  Budge;  I  do  not  understand  it.'  The  next  question  was, 
'President  Richards,  why  was  it  that  you  could  understand  me,  and 
I  could  understand  you  for  miles,  and  now  we  cannot  understand 
each  other  at  all?'  " 

Eldef  Richards  told  him  that  one  of  the  fruits  of  the  true  gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ  is  [the  interpretation  of  tongues.  "You  have  reached 
out  your  hand,  figuratively  speaking,  and  plucked  the  fruit  of  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  God  has1  given  you  a  testimony  and  witness 
that  you  have  found  the  truth,  and  has  allowed  you  to  partake  of 
part  of  the  fruits  of  the  true  gospel."  Brother  Maeser  said  to  me,  in 
substance,  "Brother  Grant,  I  trembled  like  a  leaf.  I  looked  up  into 
heaven,  and  said,  'O  Lord,  you  have  given  me  a  witness,  you  have 
answered  my  prayer,  and  again  I  renew  my  pledge  to  give  my  life, 
if  need  be,  to  this  cause.'  "  . 

Those  of  us  who  knew  Karl  G.  Maeser  know  that  no  other 
human  being  in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  .Saints  has 
more  perfectly  given  his  life  to  the  work  of  God  than  he'  did.  Day  in 
and  day  out,  month  in  and  month  out,  year  in  and  year  out,  Karl 
G.  Maeser  labored  for  the  Church  and  the  Church  alone,  with  no 
special  thought  of  himself  or  his  own  advancement.  He  was  an 
honest  tithe-payer  and  an  observer  of  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  a  man  who 
had  the  inspiration  of  the  living  God  with  him. 

The  Dead  Were  Raised 

Hyrum  Grant,  my  brother,  had  yellow  jaundice  which  turned 
to  black  jaundice.  He  became  as  black  as  my  coat.  He  weighed 
slightly  more  than  seventy  pounds,  and  was  in  a  most  terrible  condi- 
tion. A  doctor  Van  Cott,  as  I  remember  it,  was  waiting  on  him,  and 
finally  announced  that  my  brother  was  dead.  He  said,  "His  pulse  has 
not  been  beating  now  for  some  four  or  five  minutes.     He  is  gone." 

Hyrum's  son  and  son-in-law  laid  their  hands  upon  his  head 
and  prayed  to  God  that  his  spirit  might  return,  that  he  might  live 
to  fulfil  a  promise  made  to  him  that  he  should  live  to  preside  over 
the    Davis    stake    of    Zion.      When    they    got   through    praying,    my 


12  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

brother  opened  his  eyes,  and  said,  "What  is  the  matter  with  you  folks? 
You  look  scared  half  to  death." 

He  got  well  and  did  preside  over  the  Davis  stake  of  Zion,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  Apostle  Lyman  told  me,  when  he  bade  me 
good-bye  in  Liverpool,  as  he  was  returning  home,  that  his  first 
official  act  when  he  got  home  would  be  to  install  Henry  H.  Blood 
as  president  of  the  Davis  stake  of  Zion.  When  Brother  Lyman 
arrived  home,  he  said  to  President  Joseph  F.  Smith,  "I  am  going  up 
to  the  Davis  stake  conference,  and  I  should  like  to  reorganize  the 
presidency.  The  president  has  been  dead  for  several  years,  and 
Hyrum  Grant  has  been  sick  now  for  a  year  or  more.  It  will  be  some 
time  before  he  recovers,  and  probably  never  will  recover.  I  think 
that  stake  ought  to  have  a  president,  and  I  am  going  to  install  one." 
"Who  are  you  going  to  install?"  asked  President  Smith.  "Why,  I  am 
going  to  install  Henry  H.  Blood,"  was  the  answer.  "No,  you  are 
not,"  ,said  President  Smith.  "Hyrum  Grant  is  going  to  get  well.  I 
blessed  him  and  the  Lord  gave  me  a  testimony  that  he  would  get 
well.  He  has  earned  the  position  and  he  is  going  to  have  it.  If  you 
want  to  put  him  in,  although  he  is  sick  abed,  put  him  jin,  but  you 
cannot  put  anyone  else  in." 

Hyrum  lived  to  fulfil  the  patriarchal  blessing  given  to  him. 

The  Prayer  of  Faith 

My  brother,  Hyrum,  had  charge  of  a  livery  stable,  and  he  took 
an  excursion  down  to  Calder's  Farm  from  the  Z.  C.  M.  I.  shoe  factory. 
This  was  between  thirty  and  forty  years  ago.  He  had  a  long  drag  that 
would  carry  about  forty  people.  •  In  the  afternoon  he  noticed  that 
a  storm  was  brewing,  and,  calling  the  Z.  C.  M.  I.  employees  together, 
he  said,  "The  State  road  is  a  turnpike.  If  it  rains,  and  we  get  the 
least  bit  off  the  track  with  this  great,  long  drag,  carrying  forty  peo- 
ple, we  are  likely  to  turn  the  vehicle  over  and  someone  may  get 
hurt  or  killed."  These  people  voted  that  if  there  was  any  accident 
they  would  hold  the  company  blameless.  They  said  they  were  going 
to  have  a  good  time.  A  terrible  storm  came  up.  It  was  dark,  and  on 
the  way  home,  lo  and  behold,  this  vehicle  turned  over.  Several 
persons  were  very  seriously  injured.  One  girl  suffered  a  number  of 
broken  bones,  and  pneumonia  set  in.  The  doctor  finally  announced 
that  she  could  live  only  a  day  or  two  at  the  most. 

The  fact  that  my  brother  was  driving  the  team  when  the  acci- 
dent happened  filled  his  heart  with  anxiety  and  remorse.  Finally  he 
came  to  me  and  said,  "Heber,  I  have  been  beseeching  the  Lord  to 
spare  that  girl's  life,  and  I  have  had  a  manifestation  that  if  you  and 
I  administer  to  her  she  will  recover."  I  said,  "It  will  be  ja  pleasure 
to  go  with  you,  Hyrum."  We  went  to  her  home.  I  walked  up 
to  the  bed  and  then  called  Hyrum  to  one  side  and  whispered  to  him 
and  said,  "Hyrum,  she  is  dying  right  now.  I  do  not  believe  we  could 
bless  her  before  she  would  be  dead.      I   think   that   in  your  anxiety 


PRESIDENT  GRANT'S   SEVENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  13 

and  excitement  you  have  received  the  wrong  idea."  He  turned  deathly 
pale,  and  said,  "Heber,  I  know  I  am  not  wrong.  I  know  I  have 
received  a  manifestation  that  if  we  bless  her  she  shall  live."  I 
apologized  to  him  and  we  did  bless  her.  Among  other  things,  I  said 
that  her  bones  should  knit,  that  she  should  recover  and  that  she  should 
go  back  and  run  her  machine  in  the  shoe  factory.  I  did  not  know 
that  she  had  been  running  a  machine,  but  I  was  inspired  to  make 
her  that  promise.  I  did  not  know  her  occupation,  except  that  she 
was  working  in  the  shoe  factory. 

That  afternoon  I  met  William  H.  Rowe,  the  superintendent  of 
the  Z.  C.  M.  I.  shoe  factory.  He  said,  "Heber,  I  have  just  returned 
from  the  home  of  Maria  DeGrey  (that  was  the  sick  girl's  name) , 
and  I  fear  she  is  dead  by  now.  I  was  up  there  about  an  hour  ago 
and  she  was  dying."  I  said,  "Brother  Rowe,  go  upstairs  into  your 
office  and  write  on  a  piece  of  paper,  'Maria  DeGrey  is  not  dead; 
Maria  DeGrey  will  not  die;  Maria  DeGrey  will  get  well  and  go  back 
to  the  Z.  C.  M.  I.  shoe  factory  and  run  her  machine.'  Did  she  run 
a  machine  before  she  met  with  this  accident?"  I  asked.  "Yes,"  he 
answered.  "Well,  she  will  be  back,"  I  continued.  "I  know  she  will 
come  back  because  I  had  a  manifestation  from  God  while  blessing 
her  that  that  is  exactly  what  should  happen." 

"Well,  there's  no  need  of  writing  it  down,  Heber,"  he  said. 
"The  doctor  told  me  that  my  daughter  would  die  before  morning. 
That  was  before  I  ever  came  from  London  out  here  to  Utah.  I  sent 
about  three  miles  across  London,  to  where  the  elders  were  staying, 
for  Junius  F.  Wells  and  his  companion  to  come  and  administer  to 
her.  The  next  morning  the  doctor  came  and  delivered  into  my  hands 
a  certificate  stating  that  my  girl  was  dead.  I  took  him  into  the  parlor 
and  introduced  him  to  the  corps  (?)  that  had  gotten  out  of  bed  and 
was  sitting  up,  and  the  doctor  nearly  dropped  in  surprise.  Now,  you 
don't  need  to  tell  me  that  Maria  DeGrey  will  get  well;  if  you  had  a 
manifestation  that  she  is  going  to  come  back,  she  will,  because  I  know 
we  have  the  power  of  the  living  God  in  our  Church,  and  that  the 
life  of  my  girl  who  is  right  here  in  Salt  Lake  City  with  me,  and) 
who  is  now  a  married  woman,  was  saved  by  the  healing  power  of 
God."     Maria  DeGrey  lived  and  went  back  and  ran  her  machine. 

The  Destroyer  Rebuked 

A  relative  of  mine  had  a  daughter  who  was  dying,  so  the  doctor 
told  me,  of  diphtheria.  He  said  she  would  die  before  morning.  The 
father  broke  down  and  wept  and  begged  me  to  pray  for  the  girl.  As 
I  was  walking  home  from  his  office  I  earnestly  prayed  to  the  Lord 
for  the  restoration  to  health  of  that  little  girl,  that  she  might  not  die, 
and  the  inspiration  came  to  me,  "The  power  of  the  Priesthood  of  the 
living  God  is  on  the  earth.  The  destroyer  is  just  as  active  as  he 
can  be;  he  delights  in  taking  the  lives  of  people.     The  power  to  re- 


14  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

buke  the  destroyer  is  here.  Get  John  Henry  Smith,  and  get  him 
quickly,  and  go  to  that  house  and  rebuke  the  destroyer,  and  the  girl 
shall    live." 

I  did  not  waste  any  time  in  getting  John  Henry  Smith.  I  ran 
all  the  way  to  his  house,  and  when  I  got  Brother  Smith  our  haste 
did  not  slacken  until  we  arrived  at  the  sick  girl's  home.  We  went 
upstairs,  where  we  found  the  father  and  mother,  uncle  and  aunt,  and 
others  of  the  relatives,  expecting  her  to  breathe  her  last.  |We  laid 
hands  upon  her  head.  I  anointed  her  with  oil  and  John  Henry  Smith 
confirmed  the  anointing.  He  promised  her  she  should  live  and  not 
die.  We  then  went  downstairs,  and  pretty  soon  the  father  came 
down,  and  said,  "My  daughter  whispered  to  me  after  you  left  the 
room,  and  said  when  that  large  man  [Brother  Smith  weighed  about 
250  or  260  pounds,  and  was  a  tall,  big  man]  was  praying  over  me, 
father,  I  was  in  intense  pain,  and  it  has  all  left  me.  I  haven't  a  par- 
ticle of  pain  now.     I  am  sick  but  I  am  in  no  pain  at  all." 

The  next  morning  I  met  the  doctor.  I  said,  "How  about  this 
young  lady   [calling  her  by  name],   did  she  die  last  night?" 

"Why,"  he  replied,  "I  went  to  see  her  this  morning  and,  I  declare, 
the  little  girl  is  going  to  get  well.  I  never  was  so  dumbfounded  in  all 
my  life.     I  never  saw  such  a  case.     I  cannot  understand  it." 

I  did  not  care  to  tell  him  that  I  could  understand  it.  He  was  not 
a  member  of  the  Church.  I  did  not  care  to  tell  him  that  I  jknew 
why  she  was  getting  well;  that  the  destroyer  had  been  rebuked  by  the 
power  of  the  Priesthood,  Which  is  on  the  earth,  and  a  promise  made  by 
John  Henry  Smith  that  she  should  live.  I  knew  I  had  a  testimony 
that  she  would  live,  and  she  did  live. 

The  Priesthood  vs.  Bullet  Wounds 

In  the  days  of  the  "underground,"  when  more  than  a  thousand 
of  our  people  went  to  the  penitentiary  for  living  with  their  wives 
whom  they  had  married  in  good  faith,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Joseph 
W.  McMurrin  was  guarding  the  servants  of  the  Lord.  (I  think  you 
all  know  Joseph  W.  McMurrin.  He  is  president  of  the  California 
mission,  arid  has  preached  in  the  Salt  Lake  Tabernacle  many  times.) 
The  brethren  were  holding  a  meeting  in  the  Social  Hall.  A  deputy 
U.  S.  marshal  came  to  the  back  door  where  Joseph  W.  McMurrin  was 
standing,  and  Joseph  put  his  arms  around  him  to  keep  him  from 
going  through  that  door.  The  deputy  finally  got  his  hand  loose  and 
took  his  pistol  and,  pressing  it  against  Brother  McMurrin's  body,  fired 
two  bullets  clear  through  his  vitals.  Those  bullets  lodged  just  under 
the  skin  in  his  back. 

I  went  with  John  Henry  Smith  to  Brother  McMurrin's  home, 
and  saw  where  the  flesh  was  burned  away  around  those  terrible  gaping 
wounds.  I  saw  where  the  bullets  had  gone  clear  through  him.  1 
heard  John  Henry  Smith  say,   "By  the  authority  of  the  Priesthood  of 


PRESIDENT   GRANT'S   SEVENTIETH   ANNIVERSARY  15 

the  living  God  which  we  hold,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  Jesus 
Christ,  we  say  that  you  shall  be  made  absolutely  whole,  and  .that  there 
shall  be  no  physical  weakness  left  upon  your  body  because  of  these 
terrible  wounds  that  you  have  received  while  guarding  the  servants  of 
the   living  God."  j 

Joseph  W.  McMurrin  is  alive  and  well7  and  has  never  had  any 
physical  weakness  because  of  those  terrible  wounds.  Tell  me  that 
sickness  is  not  cured  by  spiritual  power,  by  the  power  of  God,  in  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ!  I  know  that  it  is  as  well  as  I  know  that 
I  live. 

The  Decree  Nullified 

When  my  wife  died,  I  took  my  three  little  girls  (ten,  twelve,  and 
fourteen  years  of  age,  the  oldest  of  the  family)  to  ,visit  New  York, 
Chicago,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Hartford,  Washington  and  other  cities 
of  interest,  that  they  might  forget  the  sorrow  of  the  death  of  their 
mother.  While  in  Washington  my  oldest  girl  was  taken  down  with 
diphtheria.  In  those  days,  thirty  years  ago,  diphtheria  was  almost 
sure  death.  I  have  known  more  than  one  family  in  which  six,  seven, 
or  eight  children  have  died  of  diphtheria.  It  was  an  alarming  disease. 
Very  soon  thereafter  my  second  daughter  came  down  with  it,  and 
they  were  both  sick  nigh  unto  death.  Finally  I  heard  the  doctor  say 
to  the  nurse  regarding  my  second  daughter,  "If  you  miss  giving  that 
child  a  stimulant  every  fifteen  minutes1 — if  you  miss  just  once — she 
will  die.     She  cannot  live  a  half  hour  without  this  stimulant."  , 

I  stayed  up  all  night  to  see  that  she  did  not  miss  giving  the 
stimulant,  and  the  next  morning  the  child  was  no  better.  I  went  into 
my  room  and  shed  some  bitter  tears  at  the  thought  that,  in  all  prob- 
ability, I  should  have  to  take  that  little  girl  home  in  a  coffin.  Kneel- 
ing down,  I  pleaded  with  the  Lord  to  spare  her  life,  for  the  very 
joy  I  was  giving  to  my  girls  added  to  and  intensified  my  own  sor- 
row; and  I  asked  that  I  be  not  obliged  to  have  an  additional  sorrow 
in  taking  that  little  girl,  whom  I  had  brought  away  from  home  to 
give  her  pleasure  in  order  that  she  might  forget  the  death  of  her 
mama,  back  to  her  home  in  a  coffin.  I  begged  that  that  might  not 
come  into  my  life.  The  testimony  of  the  Spirit  came  to  me:  "The 
power  of  the  Priesthood  is  here  on  the  earth.  Send  for  the  elders  and 
rebuke  the  power  of  the  destroyer  and  that  girl  shall  live." 

Immediately  I  thanked  the  Lord  for  the  whisperings  of  his  Spirit, 
and  I  shed  tears  of  gratitude  and  thanksgiving,  after  shedding  tears  of 
bitter  anguish.  George  Q.  Cannon  was  in  Washington  at  the  time, 
and  also  Bishop  Hiram  B.  Clawson,  the  father  of  Elder  Rudger  Clawson 
of^the  Council  of  the  Twelve.  I  sent  at  once  for  them  to  come  and 
administer  to  my  child.  Brother  Clawson  anointed  her,  and  Brother 
Cannon  confirmed  the  anointing.  In  that  confirmation  he  said  some- 
thing that  I  have  never  heard,  before  or  since,  in  my  life.  He  said, 
"The  adversary,  the  destroyer,  has  decreed  your  death  and  made  public 


!6  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

announcement  of  his  decree,  but  by  the  authority  of  the  Priesthood  of 
God,  which  we  hold  as  his  servants,  and  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Redeemer,  we  rebuke  the  decree  of  the  destroyer  and  say,  you  shall 
live." 

As  I  was  leaving  the  boarding  house  where  I  had  been  with  my 
children,  after  they  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  travel,  the  husband 
of  the  woman  who  kept  the  boarding  house  (she  was  away  that 
day)  said*  he  could  not  keep  from  telling  me  a  joke  on  his  wife. 
He  was  a  clerk  in  one  of  the,  departments  at  Washington.  He  said, 
"Mr.  Grant,  had  she  been  here  you  would  never  have  heard  it,  but 
she  is  not  here  today  and  I  am  going  to  tell  it  to  you.  She  believes 
in  spiritualistic  mediums  and  in  communication  through  the  mediums, 
and  when  our  little  girls  were  taken  down  sick  in  the.  house,  she 
went  to  a  medium,  who  told  her  the  following  story: 

"  'I  see  in  your  home  two  little  girls.  I  see  that  the  older  one 
of  the  two  little  girls  is  taken  sick.  I  see  that  she  is  very  sick.  I  now 
see  that  the  next  little  girl  is  taken  sick.  I  now  see  that  she  is  very 
sick.  I  now  see  that  both  of  them  are  sick  nigh  unto  death.  I  now 
see  the  older  of  the  two  girls  recover.  I  now  see  the  second  little 
girl  die.'  " 

Then  she  described  the  journey  of  that  body  in  a  coffin  from 
Washington  to  Salt  Lake  City.  She  described  it  passing  through  big 
cities,  one  after  another,  and  then  stopping  in  a  large  city  and  chang- 
ing cars.  Everybody  who  has  been  in  Chicago  knows  that  all  have 
to  change  cars  in  Chicago.  She  then  described  the  body  leaving  Chicago, 
going  through  another  city  of  considerable  size,  then  crossing  a  great 
river  (the  Mississippi),  always  going  to  the  west.  He  said  she 
described  going  through  some  more  cities,  finally  crossing  another 
great  river  (the  Missouri.)  She  did  not  mention  the  Mississippi  or 
the  Missouri,  however,  but  said  two  great  rivers.  It  still  traveled  to 
the  west  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  miles.  It  is  somewhat  more  than 
two  thousand  miles  to  Salt  Lake  City  from  Washington.  She  finally 
saw  it  climbing  mountains,  mountains,  mountains,  first  describing 
the  plains,  the  level  country  of  Nebraska,  then  climbing  the  Rocky 
Mountains;  then  saw  it  go  south  for  a  short  distance  (from  Ogden 
to  Salt  Lake  City.)  She  then  described  the  Salt  Lake  Valley,  almost 
completely  surrounded  with  mountains,  which  is  true.  She  then 
described  a  burial  ground  on  the  side  hills,  and  ,that  is  just  whert 
it   is.      She  then  saw  my   little   daughter  lowered   into  the  grave. 

I  knew  then  the  meaning  of  the  inspiration  of  the  living  God 
to  George  Q.  Cannon  when  he  said,  "The  adversary  has  decreed  your 
death,  and  made  public  announcement  of  it,  and  we  rebuke  that  decree." 
It  was  rebuked,  and,  instead  of  the  little  girl  being  buried  as  the 
spiritualistic  medium  said  she  would  be,  because  the  devil  himself 
has  inspired  her  to  do  so,  by  the  priesthood  of  God  rebuking  the 
decree  of  death,  she  is  alive,  healthy  and  strong.     She  is  the  mother 


PRESIDENT   GRANTS   SEVENTIETH   ANNIVERSARY  17 

of  seven  beautiful  children,   and,   in  the  providences  of  God,   George 
Q.   Cannon   is   their   great-grandfather. 

This  same  girl,  when  quite  young,  was  promised  that  she  should 
live  to  be  one  of  the  leaders  of  her  sisters  in  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  and  she  is  now  a  counselor  to  the 
president  of  all  the  Young  Ladies'  Mutual  Improvement  Associations, 
with  50,000  membership. 

The  Fore- Warned  Minister  to  The  "Mormons" 

A  young  man  was  educated  for  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  at  Manchester,  England,  and  he  was  instructed  by 
Dr.  Iliff  of  that  denomination  as  to  his  course  of  action.  That  young 
man,  Benjamin  Birchall,  came  out  to  Nephi,  Utah.  He  was  given  a 
lot  of  anti- "Mormon"  literature,  etc.,  and  was  told,  "Don't  you 
go  into  the  homes  of  the  'Mormons;'  don't  you  take  their  Book 
of  Mormon;  don't  read  it;  don't  read  their  tracts,  but  just  give  them 
the  inattention   they   deserve." 

The  young  man  studied  what  he  was  told  to  study,  and  loaded, 
figuratively,  his  double-barreled  shotgun  with  anti- "Mormon"  ideas, 
and  the  first  time  he  fired  it  off  was  at  one  of  the  two  bishops  of 
the  wards  in  Nephi.  The  bishop  laughed  and  said,  "Who  has  been 
stuffing    you    with    lies?" 

He  said,    "Those  are  not  lies." 

The  bishop  said,  "They  are,  and  I  happen  to  know  that  some 
of  them  are  myself." 

He  told  the  young  man  what  he  knew,  and  the  latter  was 
astonished.  He  said,  "Bishop,  can  I  come  down  to  your  house  and 
spend  an  evening  with  you?" 

"Come  right  along,"  answered  the  bishop.  He  disobeyed  the 
Reverend  Iliff s  instructions  and  went  down  there,  and  he  spent, 
not  one  evening,  but  many  evenings.  Finally  he  said,  "Will  you 
kindly  loan  me  your  Book  of  Mormon?"  It  was  loaned  to  him. 
"Will  you  kindly  let  me  have  some  of  your  tracts?"  And  he  studied 
them.  Finally  he  resigned  his  job  of  preaching  for  money  for  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  joined  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints,  and  went  out  pitching  hay,  I  think  it  was,  for  a 
living. 

Subsequently  he  was  called  to  go  back  to  his  native  land  on  a 
mission.  The  first  man  he  called  on  in  Manchester  was  his  former 
instructor,  the  minister  who  had  educated  him.  He  was  the  min- 
ister's star  pupil.  The  minister  was  delighted  to  see  him,  and  they 
had  a  very  delightful  visit  for  a  little  while.  Finally  he  said,  "How 
do  you  get  along  with  those  awful  'Mormons'  in  Utah?" 

"Oh,"  said  the  young  man,  "I  get  along  pretty  well  with 
them.  They  are  not  half  as  bad  as  I  thought  they  were  when  I  went 
to  Utah.     I  have  become  acquainted  with  them,  and,  do  you  know 


18  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

there  are  a  great  many  of  their  doctrines  that  I  cannot  overturn  and 
explain  away,  and  I  would  be  grateful  if  you  would  point  out  the 
errors  in  them." 

"Why,"  said  the  minister,  "that  will  be  a  pleasure  to  me.  They 
are  almost  heathens,  those  'Mormons.'  They  are  not  Christians 
at  all." 

And  when  the  young  man  commenced  showing  him  our  doctrines, 
and  when  he  started  to  try  pointing  out  the  errors,  he  got  into  deep 
water,  and  soon  began  to  flounder.  Finally  he  doubled  up  his  fist  and 
shook  it  at  the  young  man  and  said,  "Look  here,  look  here!  I  be- 
lieve you  have  become  one  of  them." 

"Oh,  I  have,"  replied  the  young  man,  "but  if  there  is  anything 
wrong  in  their  doctrines,  if  they  are  not  scriptural,  if  you  can  show 
me  they  are  wrong,  I  am  willing  to  renounce  them." 

Well,  this  minister  opened  the  door,  and  emphatically  told  the 
young  man  to  get  out  before  he  kicked  him  out. 

The  Warm  Welcome 

I  call  to  mind  reading  an  article  (in  the  Improvement  Era)  while 
I  was  overi  in  Japan,  telling  of  a  young  man  who  had  become  con- 
verted and  had  been  baptized.  He  had  graduated  from  a  university 
and  persuaded  the  elder  who  baptized  him  to  gd  with  him  to  his 
home,  saying  that  he  had  the  finest  father  and  mother  who  ever  lived, 
a  choice  man  and  va  choice  woman,  none  finer  in  the  world,  and  he 
knew  they  would  gladly  receive  the  gospel.  It  was  several  hundred 
miles  to  his  home,  and  the  elder  got  permission  from  the  conference 
president  to  go  into  another  part  of  Scandinavia. 

He  started  with  this  young  man  to  his  home.  When  they 
arrived  at  the  railway  station,  which  was  several  miles  from  the  home, 
i:  was  raining  hard  and  there  were  no  vehicles  there.  The  young 
man  having  been  away  for  a  year  or  two  from  his  home  persuaded 
the  elder,  who  was  about  his  own  size,  to  walk  with  him  through  the 
rain,  despite'  the  soaking  they  would  get,  for  he  said  that  as  soon  as 
they  got  home  they  would  have  awaiting  them  some  dry  clothing,  a 
warm  welcome,  and  a  hot  meal  prepared  for  them.  The  young  elder 
said,  certainly,  he.  did  not  mind  getting  wet,  and  that  he  would  put 
some  of  the  convert's  dry  clothing  on  when  they  arrived  at  their 
destination. 

Upon  their  arrival  they  received  a  warm  welcome.  The  young 
man  introduced  the  missionary  as  his  friend,  and  he  was  fervently 
received.  The  mother  immediately  started  to  prepare  a  warm  supper, 
and  the  boy,  being  an  enthusiastic  convert,  could  not  wait  to  change 
his  clothes  before  he  blurted  out  to  his  father,  "Father,  congratulate  me, 
I  have  found  the  gospel;  I  have  found  the  plan  of  life  and  salvation. 
I  have  become  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints." 

"What!"    said   the   father,    "do   you   mean   to   tell  me   that  you 


PRESIDENT  GRANT'S   SEVENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  19 

have  become  a  'Mormon'?"  "Oh,"  answered,  the  young  man,  "that 
is  a  nick  name.  We  believe  in  the  Bible;  we  also  believe  in  the  Book 
of  Mormon.  We  don't  call  people  'Bibles'  because  they  believe  in  the 
Bible.  Why* call  us  'Mormons'  because  we  believe  in  the  Book  of 
Mormon?" 

"Never  mind,  my  son.  Are  the  members  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  and  the  'Mormon'  Church  one  and  the 
same  people?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  boy,  "they  are." 

"All  right,"  said  the  father;  walking  to  the  door  and  opening 
it.  He' continued,  "My  son,  go  out  into  the  storm.  Never  darken 
that  door  again  as  long  as  you  live.  Choose  tonight  between  father 
and  mother  and  all  ,that  I  possess  [he  was  a  wealthy  man]  and  this 
hateful  religion  called  'Mormonism.'  Choose  this  night.  I  had  set 
my  heart  upon  you  making  a  record  worthy  of  your  name.  Never 
darken  our  door  again  unless  you  denounce  this  thing  called  'Mor- 
monism'." 

The  mother  stopped  in  her  cooking,  turned  deathly  pale.  The 
boy  turned  to  his  mother,  and  reaching  out  his  arms,  said,  "Oh, 
mother,  do  you,  too,  turn  me  out}  into  the  cold  and  storm,  and  say, 
'never  darken  my  door  again,  never  let  me  lay  eyes  on  you,'  as  father 
has  said?" 

She  replied,    "Your  father's  word  is  law   in  this  house." 

The  young  man  turned  to  his  companion  and  said,  "Come, 
brother,  come!"     And  they  went  out  into  the  storm. 

He  came  to  Utah  and  devoted  his  life  to  the  cause.  Finally  he 
went  back  to  his  native  land  and  proclaimed  the  restoration  of  the 
gospel  to  the  earth — the  plan  of  life  and  salvation. 

A  Prophecy  Fulfilled 

I  was  a  ruined  man  financially  many  years  ago.  I  was  some- 
what more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  worse  off  than  noth- 
ing, and  my  family  did  not  have  homes  to  live  in.  My  mother's  home 
was  mortgaged.  I  came  home  one  morning  at  1  o'clock.  I  generally 
worked  until  eleven,  twelve  or  1  o'clock  trying  to  earn  enough  to  pay 
the  interest  on  my  debts,  and  for  four  long  years  I  had  between 
twenty-five  and  thirty  thousand  dollars  of  debts  on  which  I  did  not 
pay  a  cent  of  interest.  Thank  fortune,  they  were  good  friends  of 
mine  and  never  asked  me  for  it.  Before  one  of  them  died  he  called 
his  ,family  to  his  bedside  and  said  that  if  they  ever  asked  me  for  one 
dollar  of  that  money  he  would  hold  it  against  them  when  he  met 
them  on  the  other  side.  On  this  particular  occasion,  when  I  came 
home  at  1  o'clock  in  the  morning,  my  wife,  who  is  now  dead,  was 
sitting  up,  and  she  said,  "Heber,  you  do  not  use  tea,  coffee,  tobacco  or 
liquor,  but  you  are  breaking  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  because  of  work- 
ing the  way  you  do,  more  than  if  you  used  tea  and  coffee;  and  I  am 
not  sure  that  you  are  not  breaking  it  more  than  if  you  were  to  use 


20  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

tobacco.  It  is  a  crime  the  way  you  are  abusing  yourself — "  She 
stopped  suddenly,  and  was  blessed  with  the  gift  of  tongues,  and  as  she 
blessed  me  (I  knew  she  was  blessing  me,  although  I  could  not  under- 
stand a  word  of  it)  I  wept  for  joy.  When  she  got  through,  she  said, 
"Do  you  have  the  interpretation?"  I  said,  "No."  We  knelt  down 
and  prayed  for  the  interpretation,  and  it  was  that  I  should  live  to 
cancel  every  obligation  I  had;  that  I  should  live  to  have  a  comfort- 
able, happy  home,  paid  for  and  free.  Three  weeks  ago  next  Tuesday 
I  paid  the  last  obligation  that  I  owed  on  earth,  and  I  have  a  very 
nice  home  and  have  somewhat  more  than  five  hundred  dollars  in  the 
bank. 

I  had  never  been  on  a  mission  at  that  time,  but  in  that  same 
blessing  she  said,  "You  shall  live  to  proclaim  the  gospel  in  many 
lands  and  in  many  climes."  I  was  subsequently  operated  on  for  ap- 
pendicitis, and  the  doctor  said  I  had  to  die.  My  own  family  physi- 
cian asked  that  I  send  for  my  stenographer  and  tell  my  last  story,  for 
blood  poisoning  in  the  third  and  last  stage  had  set  in  and  I  could  not 
possibly  live.  This  was  after  I  had  made  a  bargain  with  the  doctor 
to  tell  me  whether  I  should  live  or  die,  and  if  there  was  one  chance  in 
fifty,  I  would  take  that  one  chance  and  get  well;  but,  if  there  was  no 
chance  at  all,  for  him  to  tell  me  so  that  I  could  send  for  my  clerk.  My 
wife  who  blessed  me  by  the  gift  of  tongues,  and  who  afterwards 
died,  visited  my  wife  who  is  now  living,  within  a  few  hours  after  I 
had  made  this  bargain,  and  told  her  that  she  need  not  worry,  that  I  was 
not  going  to  die  then,  that  my  mission  on  the  earth  was  not  ye,t 
ended.  When  my  wife  told  me  of  this  manifestation,  I  remembered 
the  promise  made  years  before  by  the  gift  of  tongues,  that  I  should  live 
to  lift  up  my  voice  in  many  lands  and  in  many  ,climes,  proclaiming 
the  restoration  of  the  gospel.  So  I  knew  that  promise  would  be  ful- 
filled; and  when  the  doctor  told  me  I  had  to  die,  as  soon  as  he  went 
out  of  the  room,  I  commenced  laughing,  and,  turning  to  my  wife, 
said,  "Isn't  it  wonderful  that  you  and  I  know  more  than  the  doctor, 
and,  although  blood  poisoning  in  the  third  stage  has  set  in,  that  I  do 
not  have  to  die;  that  I  shall  live  to  fulfil  that  promise  made  by  jthe 
gift  of  tongues  by  my  wife,  who  has  told  you  that  my  mission  is  not 
ended." 

That  operation  was  performed  in  1897.  Since  then  I  have 
lifted  up  my  voice  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  in  far-off  Japan,  in  Eng- 
land, Ireland,  Scotland,  Wales,  Germany,  Holland,  France,  Belgium, 
Italy,  Switzerland,  Norway,  Sweden,  Denmark,  Canada,  Mexico, 
from  Portland,  Maine,  to  Portland,  Oregon,  from  .the  Canadian  line 
clear  down  to  Florida,  bearing  witness  that  I  know,  as  I  know  I  live, 
that  God  lives;  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ;  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
prophet  of  the  true  and  the  living  God;  that  the  gospel  commonly 
called  "Mormonism"  is  in  very  deed  the  gospel  of  the  Lord,  Jesus 
Christ;  with  every  gift,  grace,  power  and  blessing  that  was  enjoyed 
in  the  former  days. 


ENGLAND  AND  THE  JEWS 

By  J.  M.  Sjodahl 

Dean  Inge,  of  the  St.  Paul  Cathedral,- London,  has  recently  ex- 
pressed pessimistic  views  concerning  the  future  of  the  great  British 
empire.  According  to  an  Associated  Press  dispatch,  he  said,  "The 
omens  are  at  present  very  unfavorable."  "It  seems  unlikely,"  he  added, 
"That  our  position  as  a  world-power  will  endure  much  longer."  He 
feared  internal  troubles,  due  to  the  "antisocial  and  unpatriotic  sec- 
tionalism which  is  the  curse  of  industrial  civilization,  especially  danger- 
ous in  a  country  situated  as  we  are." 

Not  only  .Great  Britain  but  every  big  country  in  the  world,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  smaller  ones,  needs  an  Isaiah  to  set  before  the  people 
in  the  most  vivid  terms  the  consequences  of  the  prevalent  anti- 
Christian  spirit,  and  a  Jeremiah  to  weep,  in  prophetic  anticipation, 
upon  the  ruins  of  a  Godless  civilization.  If  Dean  Inge  can  arouse  the 
people  to  a  serious  contemplation  of  the  dangers  ahead,  he  will  have 
done  much  towards  escaping  them. 

But  although  the  sounding  of  the  foghorn,  to  indicate  the  rocks 
ahead,  must  be  admitted  to  be  timely  and  necessary,  yet  I,  for  one, 
believe  that  the  Almighty  has  his  protecting  hand  in  mercy  over  the 
British  empire,  and  will  continue  to  bless  its  people,  as  long  as  they 
will  befriend  the  children  of  .Abraham  and  carry  out  the  purposes  of 
God  concerning  them. 

The  promise  of  the  Lord  to  Abraham,  "I  will  bless  them  that 
bless  thee,  and  curse  him  that  curseth  thee,"  is  as  much  in  force  now, 
as  the  day  it  was  given.  Great  Britain  has  always  blessed  the  children 
of  Abraham  by  giving  them  liberty,  under  the  British  flag,  to  worship 
God,  and  to  rise  to  thef  highest  positions  in  the  state,  and  finally  by 
proclaiming  the  policy  of  the  government  to  be  the  protection  of  the 
Jews  in  their  efforts  at  making  Palestine  their  homeland.  If  for  no 
other  reason,  the  Lord  is  bound,  Dean  Inge,  by  his  own  covenant,  to 
bless  Great  Britain  in  return  for  this  declaration  of  the  Balfour  govern- 
ment, which  has  no  parallel  in  history  since  the  proclamation  of 
Cyrus  about  500  B.  C.  (Ezra  1:1-4.)  This  is  the  weightiest  reason 
possible  for  believing  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  over  Great  Britain 
for  good,  and  will  be  for  a  long  time  to  come. 

Nor  do  we  forget  that  the  English  government  has  always  pro- 
tected the  people  of  God  in  these,  the  latter,  days  in  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  a  free  country,  even  against  the  clamor  of  mobs. 
We  have  seen  that  the  blessings  of  the  Lord  have  been  bestowed  upon 
countries  where  the  Latter-day  Saints  have  found  liberty  and  pro- 
tection, while  misfortunes  have  overtaken  other  countries.  This, 
again,  is  in  fulfilment  of  the  promise  given  to  Abraham  and  his  seed. 


22  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

But  we,  as  Latter-day  Saints,  have  one  more  reason  for  that 
belief. 

When  Orson  Hyde,  on  Sunday,  Oct.  24,  1847,  dedicated  Pales- 
tine for  the  gathering  of  the  Jews,  he  prayed  the  Lord,  among  other 
things,  to  let  the  nation  and  the  people  that  labor  for  the  restoration  of 
Jerusalem  find  grace  before  him,  and  protect  them  against  the  enemy, 
famine  and  pestilence.  "Let  not,"  he  prayed,  "their  enemies  prevail 
against  them,  neither  let  pestilence  or  famine  overcome  them,  but  let 
the  glory  of  Israel  overshadow  them,  and  the  Power  of  the  Highest 
protect  them;  while  that  nation  or  kingdom  that  will  not  serve  thee  in 
this  glorious  work  must  perish,  according  to  thy  word — yes,  those 
nations  shall  be  utterly  wasted." 

This  prayer  was  offered  by  an  inspired  Apostle  of  the  Lord.  It 
was  offered  by  a  man  specially  called  by  the  Lord  to  perform  that 
wonderful  mission.     It  has  been,  and  will  be,  fulfilled  to  the  letter. 

Orson  Hyde  also  petitioned  the  Lord  to  make  the  country  fruit- 
ful. "Let,"  he  prayed,  "springs  water  the  dry  ground;  let  the  vine  and 
the  olive  flourish;  let  the  skies  pour  forth  life  and  wealth;  let  the 
flocks  and  herds  multiply  on  the  hills;  let  the  big  ships  of  the 
nations  carry  the  people  from  far  off  islands;  let  them  come  as  clouds, 
and  as  doves  to  their  windows." 

All  this  is  being  wonderfully  fulfilled  before  our  eyes. 

During  the  last  few  years,  the  Jews  have  gathered  to  Palestine 
to  the  number  of  20,000  annually,  and  the  present  Jewish  population 
is  perhaps  not  far  from  150,000.  About  1/18  part  of  the  country 
now  belongs  to  the  Jews,  and  nearly  all  of  this  is  under  cultivation. 
Vast  sums  are  being  spent  on  improvements,  by  two  great  organiza- 
tions created  for  the  redemption  of  the  land. 

The  Jewish  national  fund  (the  Kajemeth  Lejisrael)  has 
undertaken  especially  the  work  necessary  for  irrigation  and  drainage. 

The  counrty  has  a  rainy  season  from  September  till  March,  but 
the  rest  of  the  year  is  dry,  and  the  hot  eastwind  burns  up  all  vegeta- 
tion, seemingly.  By  storage  of  the  water  and  irrigation  the  land  in 
many  places  could  be  made  to  yield  two  harvests  every  year. 

The  organization  mentioned  (Keren  Kajemeth)  spent  during 
1924  and  the  first  6  months  of  1925  circa  $700,000  for  irrigation 
canals  and  dams,  and  about  $1,700,000  for  draining-canals.  These 
are  necessary  in  many  places  where  the  stagnant  pools  become  the 
breeding  places  of  mosquitos  which  carry  the  malaria  germs  to  nearby 
settlements.  The  Keren  Kajemeth  sees  to  it  that  all  stagnant  water  is 
carried  away,  and  that  even  rain  water  is  properly  taken  care  of,  and 
all  draining  is  through  pipes  under  the  ground,  instead  of  open  ditches, 
in  order  to  prevent  the  mosquitos  from  breeding. 

Another  feature  of  the  settlement  through  this  organization  is 
that  the  land  obtained  through  its  agency  cannot  be  bought.  It  can 
only  be  leased  for  49  years.  This  seems  to  be  a  revival  of  the  ancient 
law  concerning  ownership  of  real  estate,  according  to  which  the  title 


ENGLAND    AND    THE    JEWS  23 

every  50th  year,  the  year  of  jubilee,  reverted  back  to  the  original 
owner.  So  the  land  of  this  organization  always  remains  its  property. 
But  if  the  lease  holder  takes  proper  care  of  it,  he  has  the  right  to 
renew  the  lease.  He  can  also  transfer  it  to  his  heirs.  For  the  privilege 
of  using  the  land  he  pays  two  per  cent  annually  on  the  invested  capital 
for  agricultural  land,  and  4  per  cent  for  city  lots.  Every  colonist 
is  entitled  to  as  much  land  as  he  and  his  family  can  use,  but  no  more. 

The  funds  at  the  disposal  of  this  organization  consists  of  free-will 
offerings  of  Jews  and  their  friends  all  over  the  world.  It  has  about  a 
million  little  savings  banks  placed  in  as  many  homes,  and  in  these 
coins  are  dropped  for  the  "redemption  of  the  land."  Everyone  who 
sends  in  as  much  as  five  Turkish  liras  (about  ($22.00)  receives  a 
neatly  printed  diploma,  and  when  20  liras  ($88.00)  is  received,  the 
name  of  the  donor  is  inscribed  in  the  "golden  book"  at  the  headquar- 
ters in  Jerusalem.  A  recent  traveler  says  there  were,  when  he  was 
there,  two  such  volumes,  each  containing  5,000  names,  representing 
about  $880,000. 

But  the  Jews  have  also  another  organization,  the  Keren  Hayessod. 
This  body  receives  the  tithes  which  the  Jews  are  paying,  and  lends  the 
money  to  the  colonists,  at  a  low  interest,  thus  enabling  them  to  buy 
the  necessary  implements,  to  build  houses  and  establish  themselves  in 
various  industries.  This  money  is  paid  back  in  installments  and  again 
lent  out  to  others.     It  is  a  kind  of  perpetual  redemption  fund. 

There  are  at  present  about  100  Jewish  colonies.  Some  are 
flourishing  cities.  Others  are  rural  communities,  modern  and  pros- 
perous. 

It  is  evident  that  the  prayer  of  Orson  Hyde  on  Mount  Olivet, 
eighty-five  years  ago,  concerning  the  gathering  of  the  Jews  and  the 
regeneration  of  the  country  is  being  fulfilled  at  the  present  time.  There 
is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  his  petition  for  the  protection  of  the  nations 
that  befriend  the  Jews  is  being  heard  as  surely  as  the  other  part  of 
his  apostolic  prayer. 


Regrets 

Aye,  lad,  I  know  they're  hard  to  bear; 
And  it's  hard  sometimes  to  .say,  "Don't  care;" 
For  regrets  have  a  way  of  lingering  there, 
Down  in  your  heart  where  it's  hard  to  bear. 

Aye,  I  know  a  heart  is  slow  to  mend, 
And  a  broken  one  may  seem  the  end 
Of  all  this  world  for  you,  and  bend 
Your  head  down  low,  ere  it  will  mend. 

Aye,  it  isn't  so  easy  at  times  to  smile. 
When  life  seems  full  of  trouble  and  trial. 
But  brace  up,  lad,   and  Jtry  it  awhile; 
There's  always  hope  for  a  man  who  can  smile. 

George  Walter 


REINHARD  MAESER 

By  J.  W.  Jensen 

On  the  morning  of  Friday,  September  17,  1926,  Reinhard  Maeser. 
an  English  teacher  at  Brigham  Young  University,  Provo,  Utah, 
called  the  roll  of  his  first  class,  and  fell  to  the  floor  dead.  Heart  failure 
was  the  cause.  Never  was  there  a  better  exemplification  of  a  man's 
"dying  in  the  harness."  It  was  an  ideal  ending  for  a  most  active 
and  useful  life. 

Reinhard  Maeser  was  seventy-one  years  of  age,  having  been  born 
in  Dresden,  Germany,  March  19,  1855.  His  parents  were  the  great 
educator,  the  first  principal  of  Brigham  Young  Academy,  Karl  Gottfried 
Maeser,  and  Anna  Meith  Maeser.  He  emigrated  to  Utah  with  his  par- 
ents when  but  a  child,  and  endured  many  of  the  privations  incident 
to  early  Utah  life.  Th0  greater  part  of  his  life  was  spent  as  a  teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Provo,  the  Murdock  Academy  of  Beaver,  and 
Brigham  Young  University,  but  he  had  numerous  other  interests  and 
held  many  responsible  positions,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastic.  He  was 
always  an  active  church  worker,  and  filled  two  missions,  one  to  his 
native  land  in  1874-76,  and  one  to  Chicago  in  1926.  In  both  of 
these  missions  he  won  the  love  of  the  Saints  with  whom  he  labored. 
Just  before  entering  his  class  room  for  the  last  time  he  listened  to  the 
kindly  greetings  sent  him  through  a  fellow-worker  from  the  Saints 
in  Chicago. 

A  devout  member  of  the  Church,  he  was  always  kindly  disposed 
to  those  about  him,  enjoyed  joking  with  his  friends,  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  youthful  sports  and  pastimes.  He  did  some  temple  work 
after  returning  from  Chicago.  While  on  a  temple  excursion  he  was 
called  to  speak,  and  gave  expression  to  the  sentiment,  "Let  us  so 
live  that  those  for  whom  we  are  working  may  be  proud  of  us  as  their 
representatives."  That  reflected  the  spirit  of  Reinhard  Maeser.  So  also 
is  reflected  that  same  spirit  in  a  letter  to  his  son  on  his  fortieth  birth- 
day, perhaps  the  last  letter  he  ever  wrote: 

To  Karl:  My  Dear  Boy: — By  the  time  this  reaches  you,  you  will  have 
attained  to  a  wonderful  period  of  life — your  fortieth  year.  Just  think  of  it, 
a  son  40  years  old!  What  shall  I  say  to  him?  Should  I  not  have  said  already 
to  him  all  that  a  father  should  say?  Would  anything  I  now  should 
say  have  effect  upon  his  life,  as  if  I  had  said  it  many  years  ago?  Anyway,  I 
should  rather  myself  live  such  a  life  as  will  say  to  my  children,  "Come,  follow 
me,"  than  merely  to  say  a  few  words  that  have  no  meaning  in  my  own  life. 

"When  I  say  to  you,  Seek  the  Lord  for  wisdom,  let  his  holy  Spirit  be 
your  guiding  force  in  life,  I  say  it  because  I  try  to  do  that  very  thing  myself. 
When  I  say  to  you,  be  diligent  in  prayer,  I  do  so  because  I  try  to  be  so  myself. 
If  I  tell  you  to  be  faithful  in  the  observance  of  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  it  is 
because  I  know  what  I  am  talking  about.  Be  honest  with  the  Lord  respect- 
ing your  tithes  and  offerings,  for  again  I  know  what  I  am  talking  about. 
Be  diligent  in  your  associations  with  the  brethren  and  sisters  in  their  meetings, 


REINHARD     MAESER  2  5 

where  you  can  learn  of  the  principles  of  the  gospel,  and  partake  of  the  sweet 
influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  Train  up  thos.e  children  of  yours  in  the  fear 
and  admonition  of  the  Lord;  teach  them  the  doctrines  of  the  Kingdom,  that 
they  may  be  worthy  of  eternal  life  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  So  live,  in  short, 
that  your  children  may  rise  up  in  years  to  come  and  bless  your  memory  for 
the  good  things  you  have  given  them,  and  the  way  of  the  Lord  you  have 
taught  them.     Be  kind,  but  also  be  firm  for  the  right. 

It  has  taken  years  of  precious  times  to  build  up  a  name  that  my  father, 
your  worthy  grandfather,  would  be  proud  of — a  name  that  can  always  be 
referred  to  with  pride.;  it  needs  only  a  moment  to  destroy  that  for  which  we 
have  labored  these  many  years.  I  am  happy  to  know  that  my  children  are 
upholding  that  worthy  name.  It  has  been  my  aim  these  many  years  to  do 
those  things  that  my  earthly  and  my  heavenly  Father  might  be  well  pleased 
with.  I  can  ask  the  same  of  you,  which,  if  you  will  do,  you  shall  be  blessed 
as  no  other  thing  shall  bless  you. 

My  vacation  has  now  closed  and  I  am  ready  for  work.  I  have  some 
things  to  do  before  school  begins,  and  yesterday  President  Eggertson  told  me 
I  should  be  thinking  about  getting  ready  outlines  for  teacher's  work  in  the 
stake.  Last  year  I  prepared,  for  all  the  stake,  outlines  for  ward  teaching.  Now 
the  year  has  rolled  round  and  the  work  of  ward  teaching  is  to  be  renewed  and 
more  outlines  are  required  and  I  am  to  prepare  them,  twelve  in  all,  one  for 
each  month.  Besides  this  I  have  a  large  responsibility  in  the  high  priests 
quorum,  in  which  I  am  first  counselor.  The  quorum  is  looking  to  me  for 
suggestions  for  the  year's  work.  This  is  a  stake  quorum,  and  therefore  re- 
quires some  careful  consideration.  But  then,  I  should  worry.  I'd  rather  wear 
out  than  to  rust  out,  and  if  I  can  make  myself  useful,  I  shall  be  happy.  To 
serve  is,  after  all,  the  highest  ambition  one  should  have. 

Karl,  I  certainly  am  happy  in  my  labors  here  in  this  stake  and  in  our 
ward.  I  have  the  glorious  privilege  of  associating  with  the  best  men  in  the 
very  best  way — in  councils,  in  prayer  circles,  in  social  ways,  in  short,  in  every 
way  that  is  uplifting  and  enjoyable;  surely  the  Lord  has  been  kind  to  me  in 
giving  me  these  great  opportunities.  I  haven't  said  a  word  yet  about  my 
great  pleasure  at  being  one  of  the  members  of  the  faculty  of  the  B.  Y.  U.,  a 
joy  that  is  beyond  expression.  Oh,  the  many  happy  moments  I  spend  in  that 
association.  And  now,  my  dear  boy,  let  me  tell  you  the  greatest  joy  of  all 
my  life, — it  is  the  fact  that  my  boys  and  girls  are  all  faithful  members  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  Oh,  may  they  ever  prove  true 
to  this  holy  trust,  that  not  one  may  be  found  unworthy  of  a  place  in  the 
celestial  kingdom  of  our  God.  I  know  your  mother  joins  me  in  this  hope  and 
prayer.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy,  and  may  you  see  many  happy  years  yet 
to  come  in  your  life.  Make  your  life  a  useful  one  and  you  shall  be  blessed, 
to  which  end  I  pray  the  Lord  to  bless  you  in  all  your  righteous  undertakings, 
in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. — Your  affectionate  father,  R.  Maeser. 

Provo,  Utah. 


A  Thought 


No  other  man  living  in  the  nineteenth  or,  so  /ar,  in  the  twentieth 
century  ever  claimed  to  have  so  sure  and  comprehensive  a  testimony 
of  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  as  Joseph  Smith.  No  man  living  who 
has  a  testimony  approximating  Joseph  Smith's  could  or  would  deny 
that  he  was  divinely  inspired. — Junius  F.  Wells. 


BORROWED  SHADE-TREES 

By  Douglas  Brian 

George  Thyberg  was  slowly  digging  away  at  a  hole  in  front 
of  the  house.  His  brow  was  drawn  into  a  scowl  and  he  labored  as  if 
every  movement  were  torture. 

Presently  Jimmie  Wells  came  along  and  stood  watching  the 
perspiration  drip  from  George's  face.  George  raised  his  head,  looked 
longingly  at  an  old  gentleman  approaching  and  began  to  speak. 

"It's  no  use,  Jim,"  he  said,  with  a  surly  voice,  "I  can't  get  off. 
Ma  wants  me  to  plant  shade  trees  and,  of  course,  she'd  pick  the  worst 
day  in  the  year  to  have  it  done.     Did  you  get  the  tickets  printed?" 

"No,  I  guess  we  won't  need  any,"  drawled  Jimmy.  "I  hate 
to  think  of  what  Mary'll  say  about  it  but  Casey  says  he  won't  be  in 
on  it.  Not  that  he'd  do  anything  much  but  we'd  never  get  a  crowd 
without  him  because  he's  the  only  one  that's  got  any  pull." 

A  slow  shuffling  of  feet  on  the  side-walk  became  noticeable  when 
it  stopped.  The  boys  turned  around  and  the  old  man,  at  whom 
George  had  been  looking,  stood  facing  them.  The  boys  did  not 
welcome  the  intrusion,  'at  this  time,  so  they  turned  their  backs  and 
went  on  talking. 

"That  affair  would  be  a  great  success  if  we  could  get  any 
backing,"  remarked  Jimmy,  "but  I'd  never  try  it  without  Casey. 
That's  always  the  way  with  him  though,  as  soon  as  we  get  a  chance  to 
do  something  big,  he  quits." 

"Yes,  that's  the  way  it  usually  works  out,"  said  George,  wiping 
his  brow,  "but  I  guess  that  don't  make  it  any  more  pleasant  planting 
trees  this  kind  of  a  day  even — ." 

He  felt  a  tap  on  the  shoulder  and  turned  to  find  the  old  gentleman 
standing  very  close.  George  dropped  his  spade  and  looked  dismally 
at  a  newly-formed  blister  on  his  thumb. 

"Say,  boys,"  said  the  old  man  with  a  tremulous  voice,  "I  just 
thought  of  a  story  I'd  like  to  tell  you,  if  you  don't  mind.  The  best 
way  I  know  of  to  keep  from  forgetting  a  thing  is  to  tell  it  to  somebody. 
In  fact  the  only  way  to  get  anything  to  do  you  any  good  is  to  use  it; 
that's  my  idea  of  it." 

Jimmy  seemed  to  be  irritated  at  the  old  fellow's  interruption,  but 
George's  kindly  attitude  was  clearly  explained  when  he  remarked,  "Let's 
go  over  in  the  'shade  and  sit  down;  I  guess  Mrs.  Blakely  won't  care." 

Once  seated  in  the  cooling  shade  of  a  willow  tree,  the  boys  re- 
signed themselves  to  listen  to  the  story.  The  old  gentleman  was  Very 
well  dressed  and  showed  all  the  signs  of  culture  and  character.  He 
leaned  back  against  the  tree  in  a  meditative  pose  and  his  voice  seemed 
more  tremulous  than  before  as  he  began: 


BORROWED      SHADE-TREES  2  7 

"It  was  somewhere  back  in  the  sixties  that  it  starts,  when  I  was 
a  mere  lad.  I'd  studied  law  some  and  figured  on  going  into  politics. 
I  kept  my  ears'  open  pretty  much  to  catch  the  trend  of  public  opinion, 
and  some  weeks  before  the  convention  I  had  decided  to  take  a  stand 
with  a  few  who  were  for  a  public  lighting  system  in  the  town.  Most 
of  the  people  wanted  it,  but  the  business  men  were  opposing  it  on  the 
ground  that  the  town  was  not  large  enough  to  justify  the  move.  And 
so  wherever  I  expressed  my  views  I  found  opposition,  and  I  was 
afraid  to  standj  on  my  own  legs.  I  was  about  ready  to  give  Up  the 
whole  business  when  one  day  Senator  Bruell  stopped  me  on  the  street. 
I  felt  a  'thrill  at  having  him  speak  to  me  confidentially,  because,  al- 
though everyone  recognized  that  he  was  too  old  ever  to  run  for  office 
again,  his  judgment  was  tempered  by  long  experience  and  his  opinion 
always  proved  powerful.  ' 

"He  asked  me  what  I  thought  about  running  for  office,  and  I 
told  him  I  hadn't  thought  much  about  it.  A  position  as  city  attorney 
looked  pretty  big  just  then,  and  I  was  a  little  shy  about  admitting  that 
I  had  thought  myself  capable  of  handling  the  job.  I  was  afraid  to 
assert  myself. 

"'Young  man,'  said  he,  'if  you'll  , support  us  in  getting  that 
lighting  system,  I'll  nominate  you  for  mayor.  Furthermore,  if  you'll 
follow  my  instructions  we  can  win  in  a  walk.' 

"My  breath  came  in  short  gasps;  the  bubble  of  success  flitting 
before  my  eyes  made  me  dizzy,  and  yet — with  the  Senator  at  my  back 
I  was  sure  to  win. 

"And  so,  at  the  convention,  Senator  Bruell's  fine  reasoning  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  me  nominated.  At  once  I  was  cast  into  the  spotlight 
of  the  public.  I  was  looked  up  to  as  being  something  which  I  was 
afraid  I  was  not.  I  was  called  upon  to  speak  at  public  meetings  and 
was  startled  at  the  sound  of  my  own  voice,  but  I,  was  perfectly  sure 
that  I  could  stammer  and  blunder  without  fear,  because  my  stal- 
wart friend  was  always  near  to  smooth  over  my  mistakes  and  hold  me 
up  lest  I  should  fall  from  my  lofty  pedestal  with  a  crash  equaled  only 
by  my  colossal  ignorance. 

"One  morning,  however,  I  was  forced  to  change  my  tactics.  I 
picked  up  the  paper  to  get  an  idea  of  the  situation  as  it  had  developed 
since  the  last  edition.  As  my  eyes  fell  on  the  headline  I  dropped  back 
into  my  chair  fairly  gasping  for  breath — Senator  Bruell  was  dead! 

"Cold  sweat  came  out  on  my  face  and  my  arms  hung  limply  at 
my  sides.  The  situation  before  me  was  plain  and  simple.  I  had  staked 
my  all  on  the  campaign — my  money,  my  reputation,  even  my  home — 
I  had  staked  it  all  on  a  sure  thing  and  lost.  My  head  swam  giddily 
and  I  lay  back  staring  with  a  stupidity  that  was  pitiful. 

"I  was  too  weak  to  go  out.  I  was  afraid  to  step  from  my  own 
doorstep.  I  felt  as  a  child  who,  being  unable  to  swim,  is  taken  out  into 
the  deep  water  and  left.  The  Senator  had  launched  me  in  a  fight  that 
I  should  never  have  dared  to  enter  otherwise,   and  now  he  had  died 


28  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

and  left  me  in  the  middle  of  the  fray.  Nothing -happened  until  late  in 
the  afternoon  and  then  a  note  came.  It  was  from  my  opponent  and 
simply  said: 

'The  world  gets  pretty  hot  at  times  for  men  who  depend  upon 
other  people's  shade  trees.  I  hereby  challenge  you  to  a  debate  upon  the 
principal  issue  of  this  campaign.  This  will  be  made  pubic  in  to- 
morrow morning's  issue.' 

"I  was  trapped.  They  knew  my  weakness  and  were  not  long  in 
taking  advantage  of  it.  In  the  frantic  hours  that  followed  I  could  have 
died  many  times  without  the  least  degree  of  sorrow  for  having  to  do 
so.  My  despair  was  almost  complete  when  another  note  came.  It  was 
not  signed  by  anyone,  but  the  writing  looked  very  much  like  my 
father's.  It  said:  'There  are  two  ways  to  win  a  fight.  Senator 
Bruell  had  pull — have  you  any  push?' 

"Long  I  sat  and  pondered  over  these  words  and  my  thoughts 
simmered  down  to  two  or  three  things.  I  was  a  full-grown  man 
with  a  fair  education — my  spine  was  perfectly  normal  and  I  decided 
that  it  would  allow  me  to  stand  alone  if  I  would  only  give  it  a 
chance.  By  nine  o'clock  I  was  studying  harder  than  I  had  ever  studied 
in  my  life. 

"Well,  to  make  a  long  story  very  short,  the  debate  was  held  and 
my  opponent,  seeming  to  under-estimate  the  job  ahead  of  him,  lost. 
I  kept  on  working  night  and  day  and  when  the  election  came  off 
he  had  the  same  kind  of  luck.  Since  that  time  I  have  become  a 
Senator  myself  and  may  be  said  to  have  a  pull,  but  the  thing  that  got 
me  there  was  push. 

"Well,  boys,  I  just  wanted  to  repeat  that  little  tale  so  I  could 
keep  it  in  mind,  and  I  appreciate  your  listening;  anyway  I  guess 
we've  taken  enough  advantage  of  borrowed  shade-trees." 

A  week  later  George  and  Jimmy  .were  sitting  quietly  on  George's 
front  porch  when  a  certain  lady  friend  came  up. 

"Hello  boys,"  she  said,  laughing,  "wasn't  Casiey  excited  when 
he  saw  that  crowd  begin  to  roll  in?  Why  everyone's  talking  about 
what  a  grand  success  it  was  and  say — what  a  splendid  lot  of  shade- 
trees  you've  planted." 

Route   No.    2,   Ogden,   Utah. 


The  fun  of  life  is  in  growing  rather  than  in  possessing.  Every  success- 
ful man  will  tell  you  this.  We  really  enjoy  only  the  things  which  we  our- 
selves make  or  earn. 

When  you  get  married  be  content  to  start  in  a  humble  way,  as  your 
parents  did.  Don't  try  to  start  where  your  parents  now  are. 

Make  up  your  mind  to  work.  Do  a  little  more  and  do  it  a  little 
better  than  the  boss  expects. 

Honesty  is  not  only  the  best  policy,  but  it  is  the  foundation  of 
civilization. 

The  time  to  save  money  is  when  you  are  making  it. — Roger  W.  Babson. 


WESTERNERS    IN    ACTION 


The  above  tree,  now  bearing  apples,  was  grown  from  an  apple  seed 
planted  in  1877  by  Mrs.  Caroline  Kimber.  The  tree  is  located  on  the  Wm. 
J.  Kimber  ranch,  at  Grouse  Creek,  Utah.  It  has  borne  fruit  for  many 
years,  having  had  as  much  as  fifteen  bushels  of  Winter  Pearmane  apples  in  one 
year.  Its  branches  are  loaded  with  fruit  this  season.  The  Era  is  under 
obligation  to  L.  J.  Kimber  for  the  picture  and  the  information.  Thej  tree 
is  repaying  by  its  fruits  the  commendable  act  of  its  planting,  by  supplying 
generations  of  people  something  to  eat,  and  apparently  also  giving  com- 
fortable shade   to  flocks  and  herds. 


Head  Work 

By  H.  R.  Merrill,  Brigham  Young  University 

A  single  thought,  many  times  in  history,  has  been  worth  a 
million  dollars;  sometimes  it  has  been  concerning  the  destruction  of 
a  man;  sometimes,  the  saving  of  a  city  or  a  nation.  A  thought  in  the 
mind  of  an  Arizona  youth  was  worth  $270  in  cold  cash  to  nine 
Arizona  students,  eager  to  study  at  the  Brigham  Young  University,  in 
Utah,  but  who  were  short  of  money.  That  sum  will  almost  pay  the 
entire  expenses  of  one  of  their  number  during  a  college  year. 

A  little  head  work — coupled  with  a  little  courage  and  a  little 
"push" — did  it. 

This  is  the  story: 

In  the  little  town  of  St.  Johns,  Arizona,  there  were  nine  young 
people — five  boys  and  four  girls — who  desired,  in  all  earnestness,  to 
study  at  the  Brigham  Young  University,   the  parent  Church  school. 


30 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


They  were  all  short  of  money,  but  they  all  hoped  that  the  way  would 
be  opened  for  them  to  journey  to  Provo.  Evidently  they  did  a  lot  of 
thinking. 

The  railroad  fare  alone  was  $42.50,  a  sum  that  was  large  enough 
to  make  a  hole  in  the  little  pile  of  savings.  Here  was  the  first  place 
they  applied  their  constructive  thinking. 

"There  are  nine  of  us,"  thought  one  young  man,  "I  wonder  if 
we  can't  buy  a  group  ticket?" 

Then  the  thought  struck  him — "Why  buy  a  railroad  ticket  at 


Shown   in   the  p!c;uiv  ar:  Armint3   Gibbons,   Mrs.    Lawrence  Jones,    Guy   Richie. 
Lawson   Hamblin,    Ear]   Piatt,    James   Garcia,    Roy   Gibbons,    brother  of   Arminta. 


all?  There  are  nine  of  us;  I  wonder  if  we  can't  get  to  Provo  some 
other  way  and — save!" 

Saving  had  been  ground  into  those  Arizona  youngsters. 

The  youth  started  on  a  quiet  hunt  for  a  conveyance.  His  father 
or  his  grandfather  might  have  tackled  the  journey  horse  back  or  in  a 
buck-board  as,  it  is*  reported,  President  A.  W.  Ivins  tackled  his  mis- 
sionary journey  of  nearly  one  thousand  miles. 

The  youth  found  a  man  with  a  truck  who  listened  kindly  to 
his  tale. 

"My  wife  and  I  would  like  to  visit  Provo,"  said  Lawrence  Jones, 
the  owner  of  the  truck.  "If  you  can  fix  my  outfit  up  so  that  it  will 
be  comfortable,  we'll  take  you." 

The  group  came  together  and  the  plan  was  laid  before  them. 
They  thought  it  sounded  attractive  to  them,  since  the  auto  road  wound 


WESTERNERS      IN      ACTION  31 

out  through  four  states,  past  Ship  Rock  and  Moab.  What  young 
person  would  not  respond  to  a  trip  like  that?  Work  began  upon  the 
truck.  Regular  wagon  bows  and  a  wagon  cover  were  secured  for  the 
journey.  They  were  placed  over  the  body  of  the  open  truck  and  the 
boys  set  to  work  making  seats.  In  a  short  time  the  rig  was  ready  and 
the  day  for  the  journey  was  set. 

But  the  head  work  did  not  cease  there.  The  intelligence  spark 
inside  kept  right  on  throwing  out  rays  of  light  in  various  directions 
to  find  other  ways  to  help  that  group  up  to  and  through  school,  for 
all  knew  that  every  dollar  saved  or  earned  on  the  front  end  of  a 
college  year  comes  in  very  splendidly  on  the  latteri  end. 

Three  of  the  group  were  musicians.  They  had  a  friend  who 
was  a  musician;  therefore,  another  thought  was  born.  Why  not  give 
a  program  to  the  town  folks  and  tell  them  that  the  proceeds  were  to 
go  toward  financing  the  boys  in  college? 

The  local  picture-show  manager  responded  kindly  to  the  sug- 
gestion. The  musicians  set  to  work  upon  a  musical  concert.  In 
practically  no  time  they  were  ready  to  appear. 

A.packed  house  met  the  performers.  The  tickets  cost  little,  be- 
cause the  boys  were  eager  to  have  a  crowd,  for  they  looked  upon  the 
program  as  a  farewell  entertainment  for  all  of  them. 

When  they  counted  their  money  and  paid  their  bills,  they  dis- 
covered they  had  cleared  the  neat  little  sum  of  $53.  In  other  words, 
the  three  musicians  had  enough  to  pay  their  fare  on  the  truck  jto 
Provo,  and  a  little  besides.  They  had  literally  tooted  themselves  to 
college. 

The  week  before  Brigham  Young  University  was  to  open  for  the 
season,  the  journey  began.  Nine  happy  youngsters  chaperoned  by  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Jones  set  out  in  their  "desert  ranger"  for  the  prom- 
ised land  of  education.  After  a  journey  replete  with  interest,  they 
landed  in  Provo  safe  and  sound  on  the  Saturday  prior  to  the  opening 
of  school,  and  rarely  have  such  pleased  young  people  ever  been  seen  on 
the  campus,  for  they  had  done  a  heroic  act  in  order  to  materialize  their 
dreams.      That  always  brings  satisfaction. 

When  they  came  in  a  group — the  male  portion — to  my  office,  I 
asked  them  why  they  had  come  so  early. 

"We  must  have  a  job,"  said  one.  "We  are  not  out  of  the  woods 
yet,  but  we'll' make  it!" 

I  feel  sure  they  will,  for  they  are  willing  to  work  their  bodies  as 
well  as  their  heads,  and  I  believe  the  process  will  be  just  as  effective. 

The  names  of  the  members  of  the  group  are  Roy  Gibbons,  Ar- 
minta  Gibbons,  his  sister;  Earl  Piatt,  James  Garcia,  Lawson  Hamblin, 
Guy  Richie,  Genevieve  Pulsipher,  Elaine  Sherwood,  Idella  Sainsbury. 
The  driver  and  chaperones  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Jones. 

These  young  people,  by  using  their  heads  a  little,  cut  down  their 
transportation  expense  from  $42.50  to  $12.50  each,  and  three  of  them, 
at  least,  made  that  amount  in  their  concert.     Such  ideals,  such  schem- 


32 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


ings,  such  saving,  have  meant  an  education  to  hundreds  of  inter- 
mountain  boys  and  girls;  it  will  continue  to  mean  an  education  for 
them  as  long  as  they  have  the  pioneer  spirit  of  originality  and  re- 
sourcefulness. 


NIELSON    GYMNASIUM,    ONEIDA    STAKE,    IDAHO 

A  patrol  leaders'  school,  Franklin  county  district,  Cache  Valley  Council,  B.  S.  A 
The  course  was  given  under  the  personal  direction  of  Field  Executive  Orville  E.  Howell, 
who  is  now  serving  as  Deputy  Commissioner.  Alfred  Kern  is  now  Field  Executive, 
instead. 


THANKSGIVING 

By  Fred  J.  Holton 

Thanksgiving!  What  memories  it  conjures  up — what  visions  it 
awakens  to  old  and  young!     It  is  essentially  a  "home  coming"  time. 

Today,  son  and  daughter — children  scattered  far  and  wide  from 
the  old  homestead,  in  the  battle  of  life — turn  now  with  unresisting  step 
toward  the  "old  home;"  there  to  meet  Father  and  Mother,  brother  and 
sister,  relative  and  friend,  under  the  old  "roof-tree" — to  circle  once 
more  the  jovial  "board"  laden  with  the  good  things  of  life;  there 
again  to  review  experiences  and  renew  the  "home"  spirit  of  early 
youth.  And  the  eyes  of  Father  and  Mother  will  twinkle  with  what 
looks  suspiciously  like  a  tear,  as  they  behold  once  more  their  children — 
yea,  their  children's  children — gathered  around  their  knee. 

Proudly  again  in  their  lovely  offspring  do  they  see  their  strength 
and  beauty,  their  tide  of  "life"  perpetuated  and  renewed  again 
in  the  vigor  and  comeliness  of  their  loved  ones. 

Surely,  for  the  day,  at  least,  should  all  gloom  be  banished — all 
strife  depart — old  feuds  be  forgotten,  in  the  very  gladness  of  the  hour, 
as  we  review  again  the  golden  memories  of  the  past,  and  project  the 
future  with  hope! 

Thanksgiving!  'Tis  a  pleasing,  joyous  custom.  "  'Twas  born 
of  the  travail,  the  hardships,  and  struggle  of  the  past,  and  although  it 
be  true  that  the  nations  of  antiquity — Egypt — Babylon — Greece — 
Rome — and  later  the  nations  carved  from  Rome,  each  had  its  own 
peculiar  day,  and  rite,  and  ceremony,  to  celebrate  the  "Harvest  Home;" 
still,  as  we  know  it,  our  "Thanksgiving  Day"  is  peculiarly  an  "Amer- 
ican" institution,  in  its  very  spirit  and  origin. 

This  day  brings  to  us  vividly  again  that  little  colony  of  the 
"Pilgrim  Fathers," — their  sturdy  virtues,  their  unconquerable  heroism, 
— who  braved  the  dangers  of  the  stormy  deep,  for  Conscience's  sake, 
and  guided  their  "barque,"  in  the  light  of  "Destiny,"  to  the  bleak  New 
England  shore — there  to  find  an  elysium,  a  spot  of  earth,  upon  which 
they  could  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  con- 
science. 

They  landed  in  the  dead  of  Winter.  The  roar  of  the  breakers,  the 
sighing  of  the  pi-nes,  their  only  welcome  home. 

They  wrestled  with  wild  nature  and  wilder  men.  Through  the 
dread  Winter,  disease  and  want  thinned  their  ranks,  but  they  were  sus- 
tained by  the  unconquerable  resolution  of  liberty.  They  subdued  the 
soil,  and  with  its  first  fruits  proclaimed  a  "Glad  Thanksgiving  Day!" 

Ah!  well  might  they  rejoice!  They  builded  better  than  they  knew. 
The  "seed"  of  a  race,  the  choice  winnowing  of  nations,  all  the  future 
strength,  glory,  power  and  majesty  of  the  "Republic  of  Liberty,"  was 
already  there,  in  embryo,  in  that  little  band,  as  the  mighty  oak  is  po- 


34  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

tcntially  in  the  tiny  acorn.  So  from  then  till  now,  in  days  of  the  Na- 
tion's peril,  as  in  prosperity,  peace  and  plenty,  has  the  pleasing  custom 
of  Thanksgiving  come  down  to  us. 

And  why  not?  It  is  natural  to  be  grateful.  The  rightly  con- 
stituted man  or  woman  cannot  fail  to  see  that  Paul  may  plant  and 
Appollos  water,  but  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest,  alone,  must  give  the  in- 
crease. 

The  poet  truly  says: 

"He  that  hath  Nature  in  him  must  be  grateful; 
'Tis  the  Creator's  primary   great   law 
That  links  the  chain  of  being  to  each  other.' 

And  David,  the  sweet  singer  of  "Israel,"  fitly  exclaims:  "O  give 
thanks  to  the  Lord,  for  he  is  gracious,  and  his  mercy  endureth  forever." 

And  for  what  should  we  give  thanks? 

Let  us  be  thankful  for  "Peace!"  In  past  years  the  world  has  been 
locked  in  deadly  combat.  The  blood  of  brothers  has  been  poured  out 
as  water — the  youth,  the  pride,  the  choice  manhood  of  nations  have 
perished,  that  liberty  might  live,  and  be  the  common  heritage  of  man. 
Though  clouds  still  darken  the  horizon,  the  light  of  the  new  day  is 
dawning.     Let  us  turn  to  it  in  hope,  and  labor  for  its  coming! 

Let  us  rejoice  and  give  thanks,  for  equal  rights,  equal  opportunity, 
freedom  under  the  law,  extended  to  all  under  the  glorious  ensign  of  the 
"Stars  and  Stripes."  As  that  freedom  was  purchased  at  a  price — the 
blood  of  our  patriot  forefathers — still  let  us  highly  resolve  to  hand 
down  that  precious  legacy  unimpaired  to  our  posterity. 

Let  us  rejoice  for  life  in  the  Twentieth  century;  that  we  live  in 
this  swiftly  moving  age,  heirs  of  the  ages  to  the  accumulated  wisdom 
and  learning  of  the  mighty  past.  Let  us  turn  gladly  to  the  mightier 
future,  thinking  new  thoughts,  doing  the  deeds  that  shall  solve  the 
problems  of  our  time. 

For  the  goodly  heritage  of  our  land,  our  chosen  land,  our  glori- 
ous state,  redeemed  from  the  desert  and  consecrated  by  the  faith  and 
labors  of  the  Pioneers,  let  us  give  thanks!  For  homes  upon  that  sacred 
soil,  surely  our  hearts  go  out  to  God  in  gratitude. 

For  valley,  plain  and  mountain,  for  the  treasures  of  the  hills,  for 
the  glory  of  the  mountains,  for  bounteous  harvests,  the  fatness  of  the 
earth,  in  the  season  thereof,  let  us  give  thanks! 

But  not  in  every  home  is  joy — there  are  vacant  chairs,  little  cots 
now  empty,  where  the  angel  of  death  hath  called  away  the  little  ones! 
Vacant  chairs  by  the  fireside,  once  occupied  by  forms  of  son,  daughter, 
father,  mother, — these  shall  not  again  return  here — they  rest  in  peace. 
To  the  bereft  Thanksgiving  comes  to  remind  of  joys  that  have  fl:d! 

Again  we  see  the  darkened  chamber;  we  hear  the  moan  of  pain, 
2S  weary  sufferers,  sick  with  dread  disease,  linger  twixt  life  and  death, 
through  dreary,  wasting  days!  Then  we  turn  to  the  unfortunate — the 
poor,  the  old,  the  weak,  th:  disconsolate,  pinched  with  poverty, 
pining  for  consolation! 


THANKSGIVING  3  5 

Oh!  let  us  turn  to  these  in  loving  service.  Let  us  give  words  of 
solace,  hope  and  cheer,  heal  the  wounded,  bind  up  the  broken-hearted, 
feed  the  hungry,  clothe  the  naked! 

"Freely  ye  have  received,  and  freely  give!" 

Thus  only  shall  we  rejoice  in  that  higher  spirit  of  Thanksgiving, 
expressed  in  Service  to  our  fellows' — in  the  Spirit  of  Him,  who  came 
in  lowly  guise,  in  loving  service  to  bring  joy  unto  men,  and  who  still 
speaks  and  utters  forth  his  Voice  to  men  and  nations;  and  amidst  the 
world's  deep  unrest,  from  out  its  gathering  clouds,  cries:  "All  men  arc 
brothers;  Peace!  Peace!  be  still!" 


Faith 

O  Faith,  the  fire  that  lights  the  soul, 

Kindled  by  God,  who  puts  us  here, 
Inspired  the  prophets  and  seers  of  old, 

And  calms  our  every  doubt  and  fear. 
O  Faith,  the  worlds  all  by  thee  framed, 

The  mouths  of  lions  held  secure, 
The  seething  fire  held  by  thy  reins, 

The  ocean's  turmoil  safe  and  sure. 

Then  give  me  faith,  that  precious  gift; 

Its  hallowed  light  around  me  throw, 
As,  likewise,  works,  its  counter-part, 

That  I  may  blessings  here  bestow, 
Proving  by  acts  a  faith  divine, 

And  by  that  faith  a  love  to  serve, 
That  I  may  train  this  soul  of  mine 

To  work  and  hope  with  might  and  nerve. 

That  I  by   faith  may   understand 

The  sacred  rights  of  friend  and  foe, 
And  not  misjudge  my  fellowman, 

As  mortals  often  do  below. 
May  pride  ne'er  rule  this  life  of  mine. 

But  judgment,  truth  and  sympathy, 
That  I  may  be  a  friend  as  kind 

As  I'd  have  others  be  to  me. 

That  I  by  faith  my  lot  may  bear, 

Hoping,   strugg'ing,  battling  on, 
Helping  others,  their  sorrows  share, 

And  making  life  a  merry  song. 
Oh,  give  me  life,  and  light    and  love, 

A  hope   in   all  my  fellowmcn, 
A  confidence  that  leads  above, 

With  kindly  service  to  the  end. 
Parker.   Idaho.  SIDNEY  A.   HANKS.   SR. 


AMONG  THE   "MORMONS" 
By  Captain  Gilbert  Frankau 

[Captain  Gilbert  Frankau,  as  will  be  remembered,  spoke  in  the  Salt 
Lake  Tabernacle  on  May  23,  1926.  His  short  address  contained  very 
favorable  utterances  respecting  the  Latter-day  Saints.  It  is  not  unusual  to 
have  people  from  all  parts  of  the  world  speak  in  the  Tabernacle  before  the 
"Mormons,"  and  there  give  fair  and  often  flattering  statements  concerning 
this  people.  Many,  however,  on  reaching  other  places,  under  other  cir- 
cumstances, are  not  so  outspoken  in  their  favor.  Captain  Gilbert  Frankau 
is  a  noted  exception.  In  his  own  country  he  did  not  change  his  opinion 
expressed  in  Salt  Lake  City  concerning  the  "Mormons."  This  is  made 
plain  from  a  writing  reproduced,  by  permission,  in  the  Millennial  Star  of 
August  26,  1926,  from  the  Sunday  Pictorial,  London,  of  July  4.  As 
stated  by  the  English  press,  he  was  commissioned  to  clear  up  for  Britain 
the  entire  "Mormon"  situation.  The  Pictorial  article  was  accompanied  by 
an   editorial   introduction,   reading: 

"In  continuation  of  his  tour  through  America,  Mr.  Frankau  has  visited  the 
city  of  rumors,  Salt  Lake  City,  and  found  that  it  is  the  finest  and  best  administered 
of  all  he  has  visited.  The  graphic  .'tory  of  the  original  pilgrimage  of  the  first 
'Mormons'  to  their  Zion  is  recounted,  and  Mr.  Frankau  disposes  once  and  for  all 
of   the  story    that   polygamy   is  still  secretly   practiced   there." 

An  editorial  in  the  Millennial  Star  further  states  that  it  is  recorded  that 
Captain  Gilbert  Frankau  himself  stated:  "The  time  has  come  for  the 
misconceptions  in  Britain  regarding  'Mormons'  to  be  wiped  out.  That  feel- 
ing is  a  menace  to  the  coordination  of  thought  and  action  of  the  two  great 
Anglo-Saxon  peoples." 

The  Era  takes  great  pleasure  in  reproducing  Captain  Frankau's  article, 
and  in  adding  thanks  to  him  for  his  fairly  spoken  sentiments  about  this 
Church  and  people. — Editors.] 

"This  is  the  Place — Brigham  Young."  Look  down,  as  I  looked 
down  yesterday,  from  the  Wasatch  foothills,  from  the  plain  granite 
pillar  which  bears  this  simple  inscription;  and  you  will  admit  that 
Brigham  Young,  maker  of  the  State  of  Utah — though  he  did  have 
nineteen  wives  and  fifty-six  children  by  them — was  more  of  a  leader 
than  any,  barring  Mussolini,  whom  this  planet  breeds  today.  From 
the  place  of  the  pillar — and  not  eighty  years  have  gone  by  since  he 
first  came  to  it — you  can  see  much  of  this  dead  leader's  handiwork. 
Snow-capped  mountains  circle  his  chosen  valley.  Beyond,  at  the  foot 
of  the  Oquirrh  range,  Salt  Lake  shimmers  silver  to  the  sunshine  of  the 
West.  And  this  side  the  lake  spreads  Salt  Lake  City,  the  hub  of 
"Mormonism,"  and  of  all  those  exaggerated  rumors  which  have  been 
such  a  gold  mine  to  the  story-tellers  of  the  past.  For  most  of  the 
things  you  have  heard  about  "Mormons"  are  rumors.  There  are  no 
walled  harems  in  this  modern  Zion,  and  hardly  a  "plural  wife,"  and 
few  even  of  those  "wild  parties"  whereby  present-day  young  America 
seeks  to  prove  that  humanity  can  never  be  made  moral  by  an  un- 
natural law. 


AMONG  THE   "MORMONS"  3  7 

Zion,  today,  is  a  city  of  much  peace,  of  law  and  order,  of  religious 
tolerance,  of  granite  buildings,  and  of  wide  streets,  tree-lined,  where 
monogamous  young  lovers  walk  o.'  nights.  Listen,  for  a  moment,  to 
the  romance  of  this  city's  founding.  Th:y  came  here — Brigham 
Young,  one  hundred  and  forty-three  men,  three  women  and  two 
children  were  with  him — driven  by  murder  and  political  persecution 
from  that  other  city,  Nauvoo,  which  they  had  founded  in  Illinois. 
They  came  in  ox-carts  and  on  horseback,  across  thirteen  hundred 
miles  of  barren  flats,  and  steep  canyons,  and  aching  deserts,  whereon  the 
bleached  buffalo  skulls  winked  like  yellow  lanterns  in  the  driven  dust. 
They  wrote  messages  on  the  buffalo  skulls,  "Passed  this  way.  All 
well.  June  20":  because,  behind  them  were  to  come  many  thousands, 
trusting  in  their  guidance  to  the  Promised  Land.  And  they  did  come 
after,  those  many  thousands,  some  of  them  so  poor  that  they  could 
afford  neither  oxen  nor  horses,  but  only  handcarts  for  their  humble 
gear.  And  how  many  died  on  their  way  to  the  Promised  Land  only 
the  prairie  coyotes  knew. 

But  long  before  those  handcart  parties  staggered  wearily  through 
Emigration  Canyon,  the  first  seeds  of  the  pioneers  were  sprouting, 
and  the  first  potatoes  gathered,  and  town  planning — as  the  rest  of 
America  does  not  understand  town  planning — had  begun.  That 
was  in  1847;  and  for  many  years  thereafter,  right  up  to  the  early 
eighties,  Brigham  Young's  great  work  went  on.  Out  of  sage  brush 
desert  he  made  a  civilization.  All  across  the  State,  which  is  as  large  as 
Great  Britain,  he  built  his  cities,  drove  his  ploughshares,  sent  his 
horsemen,  planted  his  fruit  trees,  sunk  his  mines.  Material  prosperity 
grew,  and  the  prestige  of  the  "Mormon"  Church  with  it,  until,  just 
about  the  time  of  our  Queen  Victoria's  first  jubilee,  the  great  outcry 
against  polygamy  began.  But  since  the  system  existed,  had  existed 
for  two  generations — though  only  about  four  per  cent  of  the  male 
"Mormons"  were  practicing  it  at  the  time — it  happened,  as  always 
happens  with  the  stubborn  Anglo-Saxon,  that  the  great  outcry  pro- 
voked a  great  fight. 

Polygamy,  remember,  was  part,  though  by  no  means  the  essential 
part,  of  the  "Mormon"  religion.  And  accordingly,  when  the  United 
States  Government  passed  a  law  abolishing  it  and  providing  that  only 
the  "first  wife"  of  a  "Mormon"  should  be  recognized  by  law,  the 
"Mormons"  challenged  that  law  in  the  Supreme  Court,  and,  having 
lost  their  case,  went  to  prison  rather  than  renounce  their  "celestial 
sisters"  or  make  illegitimate  those  children  who,  according  to  their 
Church,  were  as  legitimate  as  yours  or  mine.  Until,  in  the  end,  after 
six  years  of  struggle,  during  which  the  "Mormon"  Church  was  actually 
deprived  of  its  lands  and  properties,  Anglo-Saxondom  reached  its 
usual  compromise.  The  plural  wives  and  children  of  the  past  were 
declared  legitimate,  provided  that  polygamy  for  the  future  should 
be  barred.  ,  ' 

That   compromise   was    reached   in   the   early   nineties.      Today 


38  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

(believe  one  who  has  journeyed  far  for  this  investigation.)  "Mormon- 
ism's"  bar  against  polygamy  is  of  the  stoutest  steel.  The  Church  of 
Latter-day  Saints  (to  give  it  its  correct  title)  has  kept  its  bargain  with 
the  United  States  Government.  Nowadays  polygamy,  if  detected, 
means  excommunication;  and  because,  both  in  its  faith  and  its  actions, 
this  particular  Church  is  far  more  rigid  than  the  most'  rigid  Roman 
Catholicism,  that  penalty  of  excommunication  is  enough.  I  stake 
my  good  name  as  a  realist  that  here,  in  Salt  Lake  City,  the  most  active 
searcher  will  fail  to  discover  any  trace  of  recent  polygamy.  The  few 
plural  wives  who  still  live — I  have  met  some  of  them — are  mere 
curiosities,  mere  relics  of  the  pioneering  past.  To  me  as  a  novelist 
their  tales  are  interesting;  but  nowadays  such  tales  are  stuff  for  fiction 
and  not  for  fact.  Yet,  it  is  a  fact  that  "Mormonism,"  as  a  religion, 
still  flourishes;  still  holds  its  believers;  still  makes  many  converts — 
and  still  suffers,  not  always  in  silence,  from  the  legends  of  its  past. 

Let  me  give  you  an  instance  of  this.  Today,  Sunday  (the 
"Mormon"  Church  allows  "Gentiles"  to  preach  at  its  services).  After 
I  had  spoken  in  the  vast,  steel-roofed  Tabernacle,  which  seats  its  ten 
thousand  and  possesses  one  of  the  finest  organs  in  the  world,  there 
came  to  me,  along  with  an  ex-officer  of  the  Norfolk  Regiment  and  his 
sister,  another  Englishwoman,  newly  converted,  young  and  hand- 
some, with  something  of  laughter  and  something  of  anger  in  her  bright, 
blue  eyes.  She  told  me  her  name,  which — though  she  did  not  ask 
mc  to  do  so — I  will  keep  confidential.  "You  may  have  heard  of  me," 
she  went  on.  "The  newspapers  at  home  made  an  awful  fuss  about 
my  conversion.  They  said  I  had  been  kidnaped  and  that  mother 
had  rushed  over  here  to  see  if  there  was  any  way  by  which  I  could 
be  saved.  Mother's  of  the  Church,  too.  She  only  came  out  on  a 
visit.  We've  had  many  a  laugh  over  the  things  that  were  written 
about  us.  It  is  funny,  isn't  it?  Still,  we  do  wish  the  newspapers 
wouldn't  print  such  rot." 

The  truth  about  "Mormonism"  is  simple.  Religiously,  it  is  merely 
a  creed  like  so  many  others.  And  though  I  personally  cannot  bring 
myself  to  believe  in  its  main  tenet,  that  God  the  Father  and  God  the 
Son  appeared  in  person  to  a  ca-llow  boy,  named  Joseph  Smith,  in  New 
England  a  few  years  after  the  Battle  of  Waterloo — any  more  than  I 
can  believe  that  some  of  the  very  pleasant  people  at  whose  houses  I 
have  foregathered,  are  "priests  forever  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek" 
■ — these  "Mormons,"  judged  by  their  works,  seem  to  me  justified  before 
the  world.  As  I  have  said,  the  State  of  Utah  owes  its  founding  to 
their  energy.  They  have  made  it,  and  are  continuing  to  develop  it. 
Their  habits  are  ascetic;  their  energies  immense.  Their  "Book  of 
Wisdom"  forbids  them  to  smoke,  drink,  lie,  swear  or  gamble.  But 
they  are  intensely  tolerant  of  other  people's  habits  and  of  other  people's 
religions.  Roman  Catholics,  Presbyterians,  Jews,  Methodists,  Chris- 
tian Scientists,  Episcopalians,  are  all  enjoying  here  their  full  religious 
freedom. 


AMONG   THE   "MORMONS"  ?9 

Brigham  Young  himself,  indeed,  gave  the  Utah  Roman  Catholics 
their  first  piece  of  land  and  their  first  hundred  pound  subscription, 
while  the  present  Governor  of  the  State,  elected  just  as  we  elect  a 
Member  of  Parliam:nt.  is  of  that  same  Roman  Catholic  faith,  though 
66  per  cent  of  the  electorate  are  "Mormons."  "Mormons,"  moreover, 
pay  the  full,  old-time  10  per  cent  of  their  income  for  Church  upkeep 
and  charity;  take  care  of  all  deserving  poor  in  their  parishes;  set  their 
faces  against  Socialism,  Bolshevism,  and  Communism  as  rigidly  as  they 
set  their  faces  against  murder  or  arson. 

Their  missionaries  come  to  us  in  England  at  their  own  expense. 
They  even  pay  the  Church  for  the  "literature"  which  they  distribute. 
So,  however  much  we  disagree  with  these  people,  at  least  let  us  leave 
off  libelling  them.  Earnest  they  certainly  are.  Too  earnest,  perhaps. 
But  they  are  earnest  only  in  their  religious  doctrine,  in  their  belief 
that  the  "Mormon"  Church  has  received  a  new  revelation.  Ulterior 
motives  they  have  none. 

And  if  anybody  after  reading  this  article  still  imagines  that 
"Mormon"  missionaries  come  to  Great  Britain  for  the  purpose  of  decoy- 
ing British  spinsters  of  certain  or  uncertain  ages  into  secret  harems — 
I  C2n  only  advise  him  to  take  a  little  walk  down  State  Street  or  South 
Temple  avenue,  Salt  Lake  City,  when  the  high  moon  is  riding  molten 
above  the  elms  and  the  poplars  which  Brigham  Young  planted,  and 
observe  the  many  Utah  maidens,  whose  bright  eyes  regard  the  stranger 
sideways  from  under  silken  lashes  as  he  passes  by.  For  they  are  very, 
very  alluring,  these  Utah  maidens — so  alluring,  indeed,  that  "Mormon" 
polygamy,  if  ever  it  comes  to  be  re-started,  will  most  certainly  begin, 
like  "Mormon"  charity,  at  home  . 


His   Presence  Seems  Everywhere 

Somehow  when  away  from  the  city, 

Away  from  the  marts  of  men, 
There's  a  feeling  of  worship  far  more  sublime 

On  the  mountain  top,  in  the  lonely  glen. 

There's  a  sense  of  awe,  as  one  hears  the  sigh 

Of  the  stately  pine  trees  there, 
For  they  seem  to  whisper  the  Master's  love, 

As  their  music  fills  the  air. 

There  is  perfect  peace  and  contentment  there. 
And  one's  heart  is  filled  with  love. 

As  they  list  to  the  happy  song  of  the  bird. 
As  they  praise  their  Maker  above. 

It  takes  from  one's  soul  the  slightest  doubt. 

For  an  unseen  power  is  there; 
And  you  breathe  a  prayer  to  the  Giver  of  all, 
For  his  presence  seems  everywhere. 
Mesa,   Arizona.  IDA  R.    ALLDREDGE. 


ARCHAEOLOGICAL  FINDS    IN  ARIZONA 

By  J.  M.  Sjodahl 

In  the  Improvement  Era  for  July,  1925,  there  appeared  a 
paper  on  certain  "Archaeological  Finds  in  Arizona."  The  informa- 
tion contained  in  that  paper  was  gathered  from  letters  addressed  to 
President  Anthony  W.  Ivins. 

The  finds  consisted  of  metal  plates,  in  the  form  of  double  crosses, 
fastened  together  with  lead  rings,  or  rivets,  and  containing  very  legible 
inscriptions  in  Latin.  At  the  time,  six  such  crosses  had  been  found, 
and  also  some  other  -objects,  and  illustrations  were  given  of  some  of 
them. 

Two  of  the  inscriptions  were  dated  A.  D.  880  and  A.  D.  895, 
respectively,  and  contained  references  to  wars,  convulsions  in  nature, 
and  an  "unknown  land.  They  also  contained  Scripture  names  in  their 
Latin  forms. 

In  the  Era  article. I  tried  to  point  out  that  the  artifacts,  if  genuine, 
in  all  probability  were  made  some  time  after  the  sixth  century  and 
before  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards.  (This  may  perhaps  be  said  to 
have  happened  in  1530,  or  thereabouts,  counting  from  the  remarkable 
cross-country  journey  of  Cabeza  de  Vaca  and  his  three  traveling  com- 
panions.) The  reason  for  this  assumption  was,  in  the  first  place,  that 
the  use  of  the  Christian  chronology  for  the  annotation  of  dates,  Anno 
Domini,  was  not  thought  of  previous  to  the  sixth  century,  and  did 
not  become  general  till  very  much  later;  and,  .in  the  second  place, 
that  the  inscriptions  show  no  trace  of  Spanish  origin. 

One  point  suggested  in  my  previous  paper,  I  beg  to  refer  to  again. 
There  is  on  one  of  the  crosses  an  inscription  in  which  a  great  religious 
leader,  Benjamin,  is  said  to  have  been  slain.  The  recorder  of  that 
event,  who,  as  I  understand  it,  signs  himself  "Josephus,"  says  that 
he  heard  this  of  his  father  five  hundred  years  "after  the  mountain." 
Now,  according  to  the  Book  of  Mormon,  one  of  the  most  terrible 
battles  of  history  was  fought  around  the  hill  Cumorah.  This,  accord- 
ing to  the  accepted  chronology,  happened  in  the  year  385  A.  D.  Five 
hundred  years  after  that  "national  tragedy"  would  be  885  A.  D.  But 
the  two  dates  in  the  inscriptions,  A.  D.  880  and  895,  respectively,  are 
so  close  to  the  Book  of  Mormon  date  referring  to  the  battle  of  Cumorah, 
as  to  form  a  very  striking  coincidence. 

The  article  in  the  July  number  of  the  Era  received  some  attention 
in  the  press,  and  the  question  of  the  genuineness  of  the  finds  was 
brought  up.  According  to  an  Associated  Press  dispatch,  dated  Tucson, 
Arizona,  Dec  14,  1925,  Dr.  O.  A.  Turney,  from  Phoenix,  Arizona, 
an  archaeologist,  did  not  believe  that  the  finds  antedated  the  coming 
of  the  Spaniards. 


ARCHAEOLOGICAL  FINDS  IN  ARIZONA  41 

Dr.  James  T.  Shotwell,  professor  of  history  at  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, according  to  a  dispatch  from  New  York,  of  the  same  date, 
expressed  doubt  on  the  "authenticity"  of  the  relics,  because  it  would 
be  most  unusual  for  persons  living  in  the  8th  or  9th  century  to  date 
their  documents  such  and  such  a  year,  A.  D.  Documents  of  that 
period  are  usually  dated  with  the  year  of  the  reign  of  some  king  or 
emperor,  or  not  dated  at  all.  This  is  perfectly  true,  but,  as  I  called 
attention  to  in  my  previous  article  in  the  Era,  the  use  of  the  Christian 
annotation  of  years  was  first  proposed  in  the  year  527  and  was  quite 
early  adopted  in  Italy,  and  became  general  after  the  year  1000.  It 
follows  that  a  document  dated  in  such  and  such  a  year  A.  D.  may, 
possibly,  have  been  written  some  time  between  the  years  600  and 
1000,  especially  if  the  text  is  Latin,  since  the  Romans  were  the  first  to 
adopt  the  proposed  innovation. 

There  is  another  line  of  reasoning  which  may  have  some  bearing 
on  the  age  of  the  inscriptions.  The  very  early  writings  extant  have 
no  divisions  between  lines  and  words.  Towards  the  end  of  the  5  th 
century  writers  and  copyists  began  to  break  the  letters  off  into  lines, 
and  in  the  9th  century  they  began  placing  a  dot  between  the  lines. 
From  this  improvement  there  was  but  a  step  toward  the  separation 
of  the  words  by  a  dot,  as  in  the  inscriptions  on  the  Arizona  crosses. 
That  does  not  prove  a  definite  date,  but  neither  does  it  preclude  the 
possibility  of  the  authenticity  of  the  dates  inscribed. 

Now,  according  to  further  information  received  by  President 
Anthony  W.  Ivins,  Dr.  Byron  Cummings  some  time  ago  delivered  an 
address  before  the  A.  A.  A.  S.,  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  in  which  he  gave 
a  detailed  description  of  the  objects  found  and  the  circumstances  under 
which  they  were  brought  to  light.  He  believes  they  were  deposited 
there  before  the  coming  of  the  Spaniards  to  Arizona.  Dr.  Cummings, 
formerly  of  the  University  of  Utah,  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  depart- 
ment of  archaeology  at  the  University  of  Arizona.     His  address  follows: 

The  Swords  and  Crosses  Recently  Discovered  Near  Tucson, 

Arizona 

(Address  by  Dean  Byron  Cummings  before  the  A  A.  A.  S.,  Jan.,  1926,  at 

Kansas  City,  Mo.) 

In  September,  1924,  Mr.  Chas.  E.  Manier  and  his  father,  while  in- 
specting an  old  lime  kiln  about  nine  miles  northwest  of  Tucson,  noticed  a 
bit  of  metal  projecting  from  the  side  of  the  trench  that  had  been  cut  through 
the  formation  to  open  an  entrance  to  the  bottom  of  the  kiln.  On  digging 
away  the  gravel  and  caliche  in  which  it  was  imbedded,  the  object  proved  to 
be  a  cross  made  of  lead  alloy.  It  has  been  cast  in  a  crude  mould  on  the  sur- 
face of  ground  over  which  were  scattered  fragments  of  ore,  caliche  and  gravel. 
Made  in  two  parts,  the  inside  of  each  half  had  been  smoothed  and  engraved 
with  inscriptions  in  Latin. 

Excavations  were  then  made  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  this  trench 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Bent,  who  owns  the  land,  and  Mr.  Manier.  Scattered  over 
considerable  area  at  between  two  and  one-half  to  six  feet  below  the  surface  have 
been  found  four  other  double  and  three  single  crosses.  Besides  these  crosses 
there  have  been  uncovered  three  swords  and  four  parts  of  swords,  three  spears 


4  2  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

and  two  spear  heads,  and  a  peculiar  paddle-shaped  object  that  may  be  called 
a  labrum.  All  of  these  are  more  or  less  engraved  with  inscriptions  in  Latin 
and  various  symbols  and  drawings.  On  the  two  unusual  crosses  entwined 
with  serpents  are  found  some  Hebrew  inscriptions  and  symbols. 

All  of  these  articles  were  found  imbedded  in  caliche  and  gravel  at 
practically  the  same  level.  None  of  this  superimposed  material  shows  any 
evidence  of  having  been  disturbed  since  laid  down  by  natural  forces.  The 
highway,  now  known  as  the  Silver  Bell  road,  takes  a  northwesterly  course 
out  from  Tucson,  along  what  was  once  the  old  stage  and  freight  route  from 
Tombstone  through  Tucson  to  Yuma.  On  the  right  stretches  the  Santa  Cruz 
valley,  while  on  the  left  the  road  is  flanked  by  an  irregular  bench  of  sand 
and  gravel  and  loose  rocks  that  has  been  cut  by  arroyos  and  tiny  valleys. 
The  ridges  between  end  in  points  and  low,  rounded  hills,  such  as  would  ba 
left  by  the  slow  erosion  that  has  been  going  on  for  many,  many  years;  in  fact, 
ever  since  the  Tucson  mountains  were  thrown  up  and  formed  the  low 
volcanic  range  that  stretches  across  this  country  for  miles.  These  points 
and  ridges  form  the  foothills  and  lower  bench  of  these  mountains.  This 
road  threads,  for  the  most  part,  along  the  edge  of  this  bench  which  formed 
the  bank  of  the  Santa  Cruz  when  its  waters  spread  out  over  its  entire  valley. 

Just  before  one  reaches  the  old  "Nine-Mile  Water  Hole,"  the  bank  on 
the  upper  and  left-hand  sides  is  quite  abrupt.  In  this  bench  was  built  the 
lime  kiln  referred  to  at  the  beginning  of  this  article.  This  kiln  was  con- 
structed by  sinking  a  cylindrical  shaft  down  through  the  surface  soil,  gravel 
and  caliche  to  the  depth  of  about  six  feet.  This  shaft  was  then  lined  with 
brick.  A  trench  was  cut  in  to  it  from  the  edge  of  the  bank,  otherwise  the 
bench  is  undisturbed.  It  was  in  this  undisturbed  material,  principally  at  the 
right  of  this  trench  that  these  articles  were  found.  One  rumor  says  that  the 
men  who  cut  this  trench  some  forty-five  years  ago  found  some  pieces  of 
metal,  but  up  to  date  we  have  been  unable  to  verify  this  report.  It  is  easy 
to  distinguish  the  material  thrown  out  upon  the  surface  from  the  shaft  and 
from  the  trench  when  the  kiln  was  constructed  and  used;  but  there  is  no 
evidence  that  this  formation  has  ever  been  disturbed,  either  on  the  level  at 
which  these  objects  were  found,  or  in  the  strata  overlying  them.  This  caliche 
is  a  lime  crust  formed  irregularly  through  sand  and  gravel  deposits  by  the 
leaching  of  the  calcareous  material  from  the  superimposed  and  surrounding 
soil  and  rock.  It  settles  into  pockets,  spreads  out  into  sheets  and  cements 
the  sand  and  gravel  together  in  hard  masses  that  can  be  broken  up  only  by 
a  sharp  pick  or  a  charge  of  dynamite.  Many  of  these  objects  were  imbedded, 
in  part  or  the  whole,  in  this  solid  caliche  and  could  be  removed  only  by 
vigorous  effort  with  a  good  pick.  Some  lay  in  pockets  or  thin  strata  of 
sand  which  were  overlaid  with  strata  of  caliche.  Lenses  of  gravel  and  sand 
extend  along  horizontally  above  these  articles  which,  if  these  articles  had 
been  "planted"  in  recent  years  and  the  holes  filled  up  with  caliche  and  gravel, 
would  be  broken  and  the  lines  of  demarkation  readily  distinguishable.  This 
formation  is  also  similar  to  that  of  the  entire  bench  at  this  point  and  to  that 
of  the  projecting  hills  on  either  side. 

Just  when  the  torrential  rains  swept  this  mass  of  rock,  sand  and  grave! 
down  from  the  slopes  of  the  mountains,  we  may  never  know;  but  it  looks 
as  though  this  had  once  formed  a  continuous  bench  along  the  banks  of 
the  river  and  then  when  the  waters  subsided  and  the  current  changed,  the 
arroyos  cut  through  this  bench  and  the  storms  rounded  off  the  hills.  At  the 
bases  of  these  mountains  on  both  sides  of  the  place  where  these  objects  were 
found,  we  have  encountered  two  periods  of  ancient  Indian  culture.  The 
floors  of  the  homes  of  the  earlier  culture  lie  3%  to  5  feet  below  the  surface, 
while  the  other  is  encountered  close  to  and  at  the  surface.  The  latter  seems 
contemporaneous  with  the  well  known  ruins  of  the  Gila  valley-  which  are 
estimated  to  be  at  least  some  eight  hundred  years  old.     Just  how  much  older 


ARCHAEOLOGICAL  FINDS  IN  ARIZONA  43 

the  earlier  culture  is,  is  hard  to  determine;  but  suffice  it  to  say  that  it  is  a 
much  cruder  culture  and  was  overlaid  with  from  4  to  5  feet  of  accumulated 
deposit  before  the  homes  of  the  later  culture  were  built.  Most  of  these 
artifacts  are  found  at  from  5  to  6  feet  below  the  surface,  a  slightly  lower 
level  than  that  of  the  earliest  pueblo  culture  yet  encountered.  Thus,  there 
are  two  outstanding  facts  in  this  problem:  the  articles  are  covered  with  from 
5  to  6  feet  of  undisturbed  natural  deposit  and  they  lie  at  approximately  the 
same  level  as  the  earliest  prehistoric  pueblo  culture  of  the  valley,  a  culture 
showing  no  characteristics  in  common  with  these  artifacts.  The  condition 
of  the  overlying  deposits  precludes  their  having  been  "planted,"  and  the 
articles  could  not  have  been  of  Indian  manufacture. 

The  articles  are  made  of  a  lead  alloy.  Assays  show  lead  and  antimony 
with  traces  of  tin,  gold,  silver  and  copper.  Ores  of  this  character  are  mined 
in  the  Tucson  mountains,  a  few  miles  away,  and  in  other  mountains  farther 
away  to  the  south.  The  ores  have  probably  been  crushed  and  crudely  smelted, 
the  metals  duddled  and  then  used  in  the  manufacture  of  these  weapons  and 
emblems.  Two  of  the  articles,  the  labrum  and  one  of  the  serpent  swords,  may 
have  been  manufactured  elsewhere  and  brought  into  the  country.  The 
metal  seems  to  contain  more  copper  and  the  workmanship  is  rather  better. 
But  the  probabilities  are  that  even  they  were  wrought  there  from  a  different 
locality.  The  most  of  the  articles  have  been  cast  and  then  shaped  by  hammer- 
ing and  smoothing.  The  scratches  made  by  stone  and  either  a  rasp  or  a  file 
or  both,  are  plainly  visible  on  the  surface  of  some  of  the  objects.  Nicks  are 
also  to  be  seen  in  some  of  the  swords  as  though  they  had  been  struck  with 
similar  weapons  and  with  the  points  of  spears.  All  are  crudely  fashioned 
and  show  such  work  as  you  might  expect  to  be  produced  by  men  in  the 
desert  country  of  Arizona,  with  few  tools  and  no  mechanical  appliances. 

The  engraving  has  been  done  by  a  sharp  point  with  a  straight  stroke 
in  some,  while  in  others  the  smooth  line  has  been  cut  and  then  the  edges 
tooled  by  a  diagonal  stroke.  In  the  double  crosses,  the  inside  of  each  half 
has  been  smoothed  and  the  inscriptions  cut  in  the  plain  surface.  Then  these 
surfaces  were  covered  with  a  thin  coating  of  wax,  the  two  parts  fitted  to- 
gether and  fastened  with  lead  rivets  which  were  headed  down. 

The  Latin  is  in  the  capital  script  that  was  in  common  use  for  records 
and  religious  inscriptions  up  to  about  the  eighth  century  A.  D.  The  words 
are  separated  by  dots,  and  the  construction  follows  that  of  the  classic  Latin 
of  Caesar  and  Virgil.  There  are  a  few  mistakes  in  spelling.  Regem  is  used 
where  you  would  expect  regentem.  The  nominative  is  used  in  one  instance 
where  you  would  expect  the  accusative.  The  sentences  are  brief  and  aim  to 
be  mere  records  of  facts.  One  would  judge  that  they  had  been  carved  by 
one  who  had  a  limited  knowledge  of  classic  Latin  and  had  woven  expressions 
with  which  he  was  familiar  into  the  record  he  desired  to  make.  In  the  matter 
of  proper  names  you  find  the  Latin  form  in  most  instances;  but  with  Gaul, 
the  English  spelling,  in  one  instance;  and  Gaule,  the  early  French,  in  two 
others.  This,  however,  may  show  an  acquaintance  with  some  old  records 
using  the  form  Gaule  and  the  e  was  omitted  by  accident  in  this  one  instance. 

The  places  mentioned  are  Britain,  Gaul,  Rome  and  Calalus.  Calalus  is 
always  given  this  spelling  whether  used  in  the  nominative  or  accusative  case 
and  is  repeatedly  designated  a  rerra  incognita,  an  unknown  land.  The  ex- 
pression Provehimuc  pelago  (we  are  carried  over  the  sea)  is  used  several 
times  also,   and  indicates  a  journey  by  water  to  Calalus. 

The  Hebrew  inscriptions  on  the  two  serpent  swords  are  words  and 
expressions  such  as  Jehovah,  good  peace,  mighty  empire,  etc.  For  the  in- 
terpretation of  the  Hebrew  we  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Davis  and  Dr.  Bender  of 
Princeton  and  Dr.  Kraeling  of  Union  Theological  Seminary  who  were  kind 
enough  to  examine  the  articles  and   give  an   opinion   of   the   Hebrew   words. 

The  drawings  and  symbols  show  Jewish  and  Roman  influence  and  are 


44 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


rather  ecclesiastical  than  military  or  political.  The  so-called  "crown"  is 
more  like  a  patriarch's  cap,  and  the  patriarch's  double  cross  appears  twice. 
The  angels  with  drawn  swords  and  the  serpents  suggest  the  story  of  the 
fall  of  man,  while  seven  candles  harp  back  to  the  ancient  temple  of  Jerusalem. 
The  square  and  compass  indicate  a  knowledge  of  masonry.  The  drawings 
of  the  temple  and  the  suggestion  of  the  fasces  are  Roman.  Other  symbols 
have  no  parallel  as  far  as  we  know;  but  their  origin  may  yet  be  traced. 

Thus  we  have  manifest  in  the  objects  themselves,  wide  and  varied  in- 
fluences. On  the  face,  these  evidences  would  indicate  the  work  of  men  who, 
slightly  versed  in  classic  Latin,  Roman  affairs  and  Jewish  history,  wished 
to  record  this  evidence  to  astonish  their  contemporaries.  But  would  any 
people,  one  or  more  centuries  ago  in  this  remote  region,  have  had  time  or 
means  or  desire  either  to  hoodwink  other  men  by  their  show  of  learning  or 
deceive  posterity?  The  white  men  who  lived  in  and  traversed  this  region 
even  fifty  years  ago,  had  very  little  time  for  fun  or  fiction  of  this  elaborate 
character,  if  any  possessed  the  ability  to  have  manufactured  or  inscribed  these 
articles.  Life  was  too  strenuous  to  have  permitted  such  activity.  The  struggle 
for  mere  existence  left  no  time  for  studying  Latin  or  recording  the  history 
of  the  Israelites. 

Some  have  suggested  that  the  Spanish  padres  may  have  had  a  station 
near  here  and  left  these  records  as  evidence  of  their  learning.  But  none  of 
these  objects  show  Spanish  ideals  or  influence,  a  thing  which  surely  would 
have  been  manifest  had  the  zealous  Jesuit  fathers  had  anything  to  do  with 
their  manufacture  or  decoration.  Besides,  these  fathers  like  other  pioneers 
were  too  busy  in  marshalling  the  Indians  to  raise  food  and  build  churches  to 
have  resorted  to  the  production  of  such  records.  Nothing  like  them  has  been 
found  elsewhere  in  connection  with  the  missions,  and  would  it  not  be  strange 
to  find  the  padres  indulging  in  such  recreation  in  the  arid  country  of 
southern  Arizona? 

The  conditions  under  which  they  have  been  found  preclude  the  possi- 
bility of  their  having  been  left  there  within  a  century  or  two.  It  seems  im- 
possible for  the  formation  over-lying  them  to  have  assumed  its  present  con- 
dition in  less  than  several  centuries.  This  evidence,  together  with  the  data 
found  on  the  articles,  indicate  that  they  were  left  there  at  some  time  preceding 
the  coming  of  the  Spanish  adventurers  and  padres  into  southern  Arizona. 
The  articles  were  commemorative  of  their  leaders,  symbols  used  in  their  re- 
ligion, and  weapons  for  their  defense  against  their  enemies — such  articles 
as  a  group  of  men  driven  to  the  last  extremity  would  leave  behind  them. 
If  this  supposition  be  true,  then  the  bones  of  these  brave  men,  their  camp 
site  and  further  evidences  of  their  character  and  customs  must  lie  scattered 
beneath  the  caliche  in  that  locality.  To  uncover  these  and  solve  this  mystery 
is  the  task  to  which  we  are  setting  ourselves. 


Source  Divine 


Beauty  of  sky-realm, 

Life  in  the  sod, 
Truths  found  in  science, 

All  are  from  God. 

Molecules  so  tiny. 

Tempests  rough-shod, 
Eyes  lit  with  laughter,  — 

These  are  from  God. 

Atoms  of  mist — damps, 

Oceans  so  broad, 
Tridell,  Utah. 


Mate-calls  of  bird-land, 
All  are  from  God. 

Energies,  hid  in  the 

Commonest  clod, 
Spheres'  sure  gyrations, 

Measured  by  God. 

Yearnings  unnoted 

Where  your  feet  trod, 
Needs — erst  unheeded — 

Heed  thou,  for  God. 

Mrs.  Alice  Morrili 


Photo    by   Frank   Beckwith 
An  Indian  hieroglyphic  on  a  lava  rock  south  of  the  town  of  Deseret 

THE  FIRST  ISSUE  OF  THE  DESERET  NEWS 

By  Grace  Wharton  Montaigne 

When  the  white  man  came  to  Millard  county,  he  found  the  red 
man  already  there; — in  fact,  the  red  man  had  been  there  for  many, 
many  scores  of  years,  in  uncounted  generations,  so  far  back  does  his 
habitation  extend. 

There  are-  a  number  of  craters  in  Millard  county  and  two  main 
lava  flows,  one  being  west  of  Fillmore,  and  in  it  are  a  number  of 
Indian  hieroglyphic  designs.  Another  lava  flow  is  a  few  miles  south  of 
Deseret,  and  again,  in  it,  similarly,  are  many  groups  of  sacred  writ- 
ings. One  of  the  largest  of  those  at  Deseret  is  carved  on  a  big  boulder 
about  twelve  by  fourteen  feet  in  size,  and  weighing  many  tons.  When 
the  big  stone  broke  off  from  the  cliff  of  the  lava  flow  above,  it  rolled 
down  the  hillside  until  it  came  to  rest  near  the  bottom;  when  it  stopped 
rolling,  what  had  been  the  inside,  or  "cleavage  side,"  was  presented 
outward.  On  that  surface  the  ancient  artisan  had  cut  freely,  in  lines 
as  broad  as  one's  finger.  But  on  the  top  of  this  same  rock,  the  cutting 
is  entirely  different,  there  being  "pecked  out"  with  the  tiniest  little  bits 
removed,  because  the  top  surface  of  the  rock  was  the  surface  suddenly 
cooled  by  contact  with  the  air,  and  hence  much  harder.  That  surface 
he  was  unable  to  carve  as  freely  and  with  such  broad  lines  as  on  this 
softer  side. 

This  must  be  explained. 

Some  time  in  the  earth's  history  "a  fissure  lava  flow"  had  oc- 
curred, which  oozed  out  of  some  crevice  south  of  Deseret,  and  spread 
in  a  great  mass  like  stiffening  candy,  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high, 
from  a  mile  to  three  miles  broad,  and  about  five  miles  long.  When  this 
lava  flow  came  to  rest,  it  cooled  on  the  edges  first,  and  this  sudden  cool- 
ing in  the  air  gave  that  surface  a  skin-like  hardening  similar  to  glass. 
Breaks  occurred  in  the  mass,  and  boulders  of  all  sizes  broke  away  from 


46  IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

the  high  ledges  and  rolled  down  the  hillside.  The  inner  surface,  or 
that  surface  which  had  been  joined  to  the  rest  of  the  mass,  cooled  slowly, 
and  was  "annealed"  as  it  were,  thereby  being  much  softer. 

As  the  rocks  rolled  down  after  breaking  away,  if  a  hardened,  skin- 
like, vitreous  surface  were  presented  outward  when  the  stone  came  to 
rest,  the  ancient  Indian  (of  no  one  knows  how  many  generations  ago) 
wrote  upon  it,  "pecking  out"  the  tiniest  bits  of  material  to  give  him 
his  design,  careful  (as  he  had  to  be)  to  remove  the  minimum  of  mate- 
rial only,  because  of  the  excessive  hardness  of  the  rocks,  and  to  save 
himself  much  labor. 

To  cut  that  hard  surface  he  must  have  used  some  material  which 
was  very  hard;  a  material  capable  of  being  brought  to  a  very  fine  point. 
He  must  have  hit  that  instrument  a  sharp  blow  with  something  used 
like  a  hammer,  to  break  through  the  hard,  dull,  red  skin,  to  expose  the 
lighter-toned  material  beneath. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  the  surface  presented  outward  when  the 
falling  boulder  came  to  rest  were  the  inner  or  cleavage  surface,  that  sur- 
face, as  we  have  noted,  being  "annealed"  as  it  were,  was  much  softer. 
Into  it  he  cut  boldly  with  a  blunter  tool,  or  pounded  away  freely,  fol- 
lowing a  design  or  "layout"  on  the  rock,  making  designs  as  broad  as 
one's  finger,  whereas  the  tiny  "peckings"  are  not  larger  than  an  eighth 
of  an  inch. 

The  photo  shows  two  young  ladies  reading  "The  First  Issue  of 
the  Deseret  News,"  as  it  has  been  facetiously-  called,  playing  on  the 
word  which  names  this  towsn  (Deseret)  and  the  same  word  for  the  lead- 
ing afternoon  paper  of  the  metropolis.  Both  these  young  ladies  had 
been  told  by  their  respective  fathers  that  the  first  issue  of  The  Deseret 
News  was  about  June  7,  1850;  they  are  now  correcting  that  error  by 
pointing  out 'indubitable  proof  that  this  issue  antedates  that  time  by 
many  centuries,  and  they  will  be  able  successfully  to  maintain  their 
position.     This  extended  group  of  cuttings  is  very  ancient. 

One  of  the  girls  is  pointing  out  a  double  circle  to  her  companion. 

Above  it  and  to  the  left  is  an  irregular  circle  with  a  vertical  bar 
dividing  it,  which  has  a  curious  resemblance  to  the  letter  of  the  ancient 
Greek  alphabet  name,  "phi."  This  character  recurs  near  Deseret  about 
seventy  times.  Often  it  is  alone;  sometimes  it  is  in  groups  with  other 
designs.     There  is  no  means  of  knowing  its  intent. 

The  entire  group  of  cuttings  has  every  resemblance  to  work  done 
with  "narrative  intent."  That  is  to  say,  the  ancient  artisan  of  the  long, 
long  ago,  was  engaged  in  the  serious  labor  of  expressing  thought  by 
means  of  indeographic  characters,  with  a  minimum  of  "pictures"  inter- 
mixed to  convey  the  meaning.  To  him  and  to  his  contemporaries,  he 
"had  written  something,"  which  they,  of  his  own  time  and  for  possibly 
a  period  after,  could  read;  then,  gradually,  its  meaning  was  lost,  as  the 
people  drifted  from  the  paths  of  peace  to  roam  more  and  more  as 
nomads.  It  is  of  course  now  lost  to  us;  it  remains  an  inexplicable 
mystery  baffling  all  our  attempts  to  solve  it.  But  certainly  we  can 
concede  that  the  large  group  has  every  resemblance  to  actual  writing. 


THE  FIRST  ISSUE   OF   THE  DESERET  NEWS  4  7 

And  so  extensive  in  character  as  to  be  a  veritable  newspaper  to  all  who 
knew  its  contents. 

It  is  rather  curious  that  on  the  upper  side  of  this  rock,  which  is  the 
outer,  of  skin-like,  highly  glazed,  very  hard  surface,  there  is  drawn  by 
"pecking"  one  large  (figure  of  a  man,  with  a  few  brief  characters. 
Among  that  group  may  be  recognized  the  "phi" -like  resemblance.  The 
combination  of  an  extended  piece,  feature  story  or  essay,  on  the  one  side, 
accompanied  by  a  "picture,"  and  a  briefer  group  is  a  further  reminder 
of  newspaperdom;  because  in  that  business  a  leading  article  is  given 
space  with  an  accompanying  illustration.  In  the  parlance  of  the  press- 
room it  is  "a  feature  story  with  a  close-up  half  tone." 

Permit  me  to  be  indulged  by  the  reader  for  a  brief  moment,  while 
this  thought  is  expanded. 

Could  it  be  possible  that  in  a  dim  and  distant  long  ago,  a  man 
mighty  in  his  tribe,  of  great  sway,  and  whose  reign  (if  so  we  may  term 
it)  was  characterized  by  many  and  important  events,  whose  deeds  were 
valiant  both  in  war  and  in  chase,  had  died,  and  that  here  we  find  his 
monumental  inscription?  Here  we  find  a  record  of  his  life,  of  the  game 
he  proved  his  prowess  by  killing;  or  the  self-glorification  of  a  proud 
monarch,  or  the  modest  recording  of  events  by  an  after-scribe,  which- 
ever it  may  be — for  Rocked  in  that  "First  Issue  of  The  Deseret  News" 
is  the  mystery  of  this  uninterpretable  "writing,"  which  may  be  a  recital 
of  a  Rameses  an  Ashur-bani-pal,  or  mayhap  merel  ythe  essay  of  a 
learned  scribe.     Who  can  say? 

Imagine  a  lava  flow  in  which,  for  generations  upon  generations, 
a  convenient  and  adaptable  niche  between  two  boulders  would  provide 
a  choice  spot  as  a  burial  repository  for  the  dead;  ceremonies  as  the  per- 
son was  laid  away,  of  the  simple  kind  we  are  wont  to  associate  with  a 
primitive  people;  and  this  having  gone  on  successively  for  those  untold 
years  a  people  has  inhabited  this  mild,  arid  desert  as  a  Winter  home. 
Then  complete  your  thought  that  something  (locked  to  us  in  impene- 
trable mystery)  was  said,  a  something  about  the  illustrious  great  of 
those  dead,  silently  sleeping  near  to  this  monument — a  something  like 
the  west  bank  of  the  Nile,  "the  city  of  the  silent  folk,"  and  you  then 
have  just  what  has  happened  at  Deseret. 

For  generations  upon  generations  a  people  has  lived  there;  snow- 
fall is  light;  Winters  are  easy;  hunting  abounds;  it  is  adapted  to  the 
manner  of  living  of  a  primitive  people; — a  wealth  of  evidence  of  the 
modern  Indian  is  found  there.  And  in  this  lava  flow  is  found  the  evi- 
dence of  the  presence  of  the  very  ancient  man. 

Much  of  the  writing  there  is  sacred — has  a  monumental  purpose. 
And  that  the  modern  Indian  thought  so  is  evidenced  by  his  reverence 
not  to  molest  the  ancient  writing  by  his  own  paltry  efforts — in  fact, 
he  loitered  around  the  uncanny  spot  not  at  all,  being  in  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity  only  under  the  like  necessity  of  burying  his  own  dead. 

To  assign  a  certain  definite  date  in  years  as  to  when  these  char- 
acters were  incised  would  draw  the  fire  of  controversy;  suffice  it  to  say 


4  8  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

they  are  very  old,  assignable  to  a  remote  antiquity.  In  that  time  of  the 
long  ago  the  ancient-  race  was  closer  to  its  heritage  than  at  any  later 
time;  they  remembered  more  of  "learning,"  of  the  art  of  reading  and 
writing,  in  that  period  when  roaming  mayhap  may  not  have  begun,  and 
before  degeneration  had  much  set  in.  They  were  as  yet  possessed  of 
remembrance.  They  had  not  forgotten.  'Twas  then  they  carved  "The 
First  Issue  of  The  Deseret  News." 
Deseret,  Utah 


The   Lord    Is   My    Shepherd 

The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  on  him  I'll  rely; 
When  evil  approaches,  to  him  I  will  cry. 
To   my  supplication  an  ear  he   will   lend; 
The  light  of  his  presence  my  fear  will  forefend. 

The  voice  of  my  Shepherd  I'll  strive  to  obey; 
To  walk  in  his  footsteps,  I  can't  go  astray. 
He'll  lead  me  to  pastures  that  always  are  green, 
To  his  sheep-cote  as  well,  where  rest  is  serene. 

His  voice  is  so  gentle,  sweet-sounding  and  clear, 

It  has  such  a  power  no  wolves  venture  near. 

Now  am  I  contented  to  rest  in  his  fold 

Where  all  sheep  are  priceless,  not  purchased  with  gold. 

The  Christ  is  my  Shepherd,  his  Church  is  my  fold; 
Here  life  is  eternal  with  pleasure  untold. 
To  follow  my  Shepherd,  Oh,  surely  I'll  try, 
Where  wolves  cannot  enter,  and  sheep  never  die. 
Sandy,    Utah.  DAVID   ARCHIBALD. 


Bits  Of  Philosophy 


Purity  is  power. 

Sentimentality  is  not  a  substitute  for  spirituality. 

Vanity  is  that  subtle  something  which  enables  us  to  discover  the  god 
in   the   looking   glass. 

The  only  way  to  get  rid  of  distracting  care  is  to  have  only  cares  that 
are  worth  caring  about. 

A  fool  is  a  fellow  who  insists  on  having  all  the  fun  there  is,  all  in 
one  day,  so  that  he  will  be  sure  to  have  a  raging  headache  all  the  rest  of 
eternity. 

The  real  Saint  never  feels  very  saintly. 

Of  true  riches  we  keep  only  what  we  give  away. 

Our  joy  is  as  deep  as  is  our  gratitude  for  what  we  have. 

Sentiment  feeds  the  fancy;   truth  satisfies  the  deep  hunger  of  the  soul. 

We  never  do  anything  admirable  while   we  are  seeking  for  admiration. 

Declamation  is  what  we  resort  to  when  our  hearts  are  empty  and  we  are 
real  anxious  to  let  people  know  about  it. — Nephi  Jensen. 


WHERE  CHUMSHIP  SHOULD  REIGN 

[In  The  Valve  World,  published  by  Crane  Company,  Chicago,  we 
find  this  confession  of  a  father  in  relation  to  his  "Little  Feller."  It  is  copied 
from  the  pages  of  the  South  Works  Review,  /published  by  and  for  the  em- 
ployees of  the  Illinois  Steel  Company.  The  attention  of  the  Improvement 
Era  has  been  called  to  it  by  a  loving  father,  Elder  Sylvester  Q.  Cannon,  Pre- 
siding Bishop  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  who  re- 
marked in  a  note,  "This  appears  to  me  very  admirable  for  the  Era."  We 
agree  with  him,  and  pass  it  on  to  our  readers,,  for  the  benefit  of  fathers  and 
mothers  and  "little  fellers,"  the  growing  "Jimmies"  and  "Janes"  of  this  very 
good  world  of  ours. — Editors.] 

"Listen,  son:  I  am  saying  this  to  you  as  you  lie  asleep,  one  little 
paw  crumpled  under  your  cheek  and  the  blond  curls  stickily  wet  on 
your  damp  forehead.  I  have  stolen  into  your  room  alone.  Just  a  few 
minutes  ago,  as  I  sat  reading  my  paper  in  the  library,  a  hot,  stifling 
wave  of  remorse  swept  over  me.  I  could  not  resist  it.  Guiltily  I  came 
to  your  bedside. 

"These  are  things  I  was  thinking,  son:  I  had  been  cross  to  you.  I 
scolded  you  as  you  were  dressing  for  school  because  you  gave  your  face 
merely  a  dab  with  a  towel.  I  took  you  to  task  for  not  cleaning  your 
shoes.  I  called  out  angrily  when  I  found  you  had  thrown  some  of  your 
things  on  the  floor. 

"At  breakfast  I  found  fault,  too.  You  spilled  things.  You  gulped 
down  your  food.  You  put  your  elbows  on  the  table.  You  spread 
butter  too  thick  on  your  bread.  And  as  you  started  off  to  play  and  I 
made  for  my  train,  you  turned  and  waved  a  little  hand  and  called, 
'Good-bye,  Daddy!'  and  I  frowned,  and  said  in  reply,  'Hold  your 
shoulders  back.' 

"Then  it  began  all  over  again  in  the  late  afternoon.  As  I  came 
up  the  hill  road  I  spied  you,  down  on  your  knees  playing  marbles. 
There  were  holes  in  your  stockings.  I  humiliated  you  before  your  boy 
friends  by  making  you  march  ahead  of  me  back  to  the  house.  Stockings 
were  expensive — and  if  you  had  to  buy  them  you  would  be  more  care- 
ful!    Imagine  that,  son,  from  a  father!     It  was  such  stupid,  silly  logic. 

"Do  you  remember,  later,  when  I  was  reading  in  the  library,  how 
you  came  in,  softly,  timidly,  with  a  sort  of  hurt,  hunted  look  in  your 
eyes?  When  I  glanced  up  over  my  paper  impatient  at  the  interruption, 
you  hesitated  at  the  door.     'What  is  it  you  want?'  I  snapped. 

The  Good-night  Kiss 

"You  said  nothing,  but  ran  across,  in  one  tempestuous  plunge, 
and  threw  your  arms  around  my  neck  and  kissed  me,  again  and  again, 
and  your  small  arms  tightened  with  an  affection  that  God  had  set 
blooming  in  your  heart  and  which  even  neglect  could  not  wither.  And 
then  you  were  gone,  pattering  up  the  stairs. 

"Well,  son,  it  was  shortly  afterwards  that  my  paper  slipped  from 


50  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

my  hands  and  a  terrible  sickening  fear  came  over  me.  Suddenly  I  saw 
myself  as  I  really  was,  in  all  my  horrible  selfishness,  and  I  felt  sick  at 
heart. 

"What  has  habit  been  doing  to  me?  The  habit  of  complaining, 
of  finding  fault,  of  reprimanding — all  of  these  were  my  rewards  to  you 
for  being  a  boy.  It  was  not  that  I  did  not  love  you;  it  was  that  I  ex- 
pected so  much  of  youth.  It  was  measuring  you  by  the  yardstick  of 
my  own  years. 

"And  there  was  so  much  that  was  good,  and  fine,  and  true  in  your 
character.  You  did  not  deserve  my  treatment  of  you,  son.  The  little 
heart  of  you  was  as  big  as  the  dawn  itself  over  the  wide  hills.  All  this 
was  shown  by  your  spontaneous  impulse  to  rush  in  and  kiss  me  good 
night.  Nothing  else  matters  tonight,  son.  I  have  come  to  your  bedside 
in  the  darkness,  and  I  have  knelt  there,  choking  with  emotion,  and  so 
ashamed! 

"It  is  a  feeble  atonement,  I  know  you  would  not  understand  these 
things  if  I  told  them  to  you  during  your  waking  hours,  yet  I  must  say 
what  I  am  saying.  I  must  burn  sacrificial  fires,  alone,  here  in  your 
bedroom,  and  make  free  confession.  And  I  have  prayed  God  to 
strengthen  me  in  my  new  resolve.  Tomorrow  I  will  be  a  real  daddy!  I 
will  chum  with  you,  and  suffer  when  you  suffer  and  laugh  when  you 
laugh.  I  will  bite  my  tongue  when  impatient  words  come.  I  will  keep 
saying  as  if  it  were  a  ritual:     'He  is  nothing  but  a  boy — a  little  boy!' 

"I  am  afraid  I  have  visualized  you  as  a  man.  Yet  as  I  see  you 
now,  son,  crumpled  and  weary  in  your  cot,  I  see  that  you  are  still  a 
baby.  Yesterday  you  were  in  your  mother's  arms,  your  head  on  her 
shoulder.     I  have  asked  too  much,  too  much. 

"Dear  boy!  Dear  little  son!  A  penitent  kneels  at  your  infant 
shrine,  here  in  the  moonlight.  I  kiss  the  little  fingers,  and  the  damp 
forehead,  and  the  yellow  curl:  and,  if  it  were  not  for  waking  you,  I 
would  snatch  you  up  and  crush  you  to  my  heart. 

"Tears  came,  and  heartache  and  remorse,  and  I  think  a  greater, 
deeper  love,  than  when  you  ran  through  the  library  door  and  wanted  to 
kiss  me!" 

The  Shrine  of  Sleeping  Childhood 

"I  do  not  know  of  a  better  shrine,"  adds  the  editor  of  the  Valve 
World,  "before  which  a  father  or  mother  may  kneel  or  stand  than  that 
of  a  sleeping  child.  I  do  not  know  of  a  holier  place,  a  temple  where 
one  is  more  likely  to  come  into  closer  touch  with  all  that  is  infinitely 
good,  where  one  may  come  nearer  to  seeing  and  feeling  God." 


Here   And    There 

With  the  person  who  knows  it  all,   it  is  always  too  late  to  learn. 

The  still,  small  voice  can  be  heard  even  by  those  who  are  totally  deaf. 

No  wonder  humans  are  jazzy!  It  is  enough  to  jazz  anyone  when  he 
stops  to  realize  that  Niagara  Falls,  rubber  tires,  brick  walls,  molasses  runs, 
soap  boxes,  time  flies,  wine  vaults,  organ  stops  and  marble  busts. 

Don't  turn  in  disgust  from  a  small  job;  the  mighty  oak  was  a  little 
nut  once. — Dorothy  C.  Retsloff,  San  Diego,  Calif. 


WHAT  A  FATHER  MEANS 
By  N.  Glenn  Stanford 

Andy's  freckled  face  flushed  crimson  under  the  scoffing  of  his 
friends  and  his  red  hair  almost  bristled  with  sudden  anger.  What  had 
he  done  to  deserve  such  treatment?  Why  should  his  old  friends  treat 
him  thus  just  because  he  could  not  sink  low  enough  in  crime  to  steal  a 
poor   old  widow's   watermelons? 

"I  tell  you,"  he  faltered;  "I — I  never  did  'fall  down'  on  you 
before, — I've  always  stuck  by  the  gang, — but  I  just  couldn't  bear  to 
see  poor  old  widow  Brown  sitting  there,  so  saint-like,  on  her  porch 
and  us  all  gorged  from  eating  her  melons.  Why,  boys!  I  would  feel 
like  the  dirtiest  sneak  that  ever  lived,  and  so  would  you  fellows — and 
you  know  it." 

"Aw  g'wan!"  bawled  a  roguish  looking  lad  of  fourteen.  "She's 
got  lots  of  them  and  besides  she's  z>  cranky  old  hen,  any  way;  what's 
a  few  watermelons  in  a  life  time,  huh?  You've  just  lost  yer  nerve, 
Andy  Green,  tha's  all." 

Andy  sobbed.  How  could  he  stand  this  insult,  he,  who  had  al- 
ways been  the  leader  of  the  gang.  He,  who  had  been  their  hero  ever 
since  the  old  days  when  they  had  hunted  for  toads  by  Caron's  dam,  and 
had  feasts  of  green  apples  from  old  man  Mcguire's  orchard.  He, — it 
was  almost  more  than  he  could  bear;  hot  tears  welled  up  in  his  eyes 
and  he  turned  and  started  for  home  amid  the  jeers  of  his  former  com- 
panions. 

As  he  neared  his  home,  he  could  make  out  the  outline  of  his  father 
as  he  sat  in  the  gathering  gloom  on  the  vine-clad  porch»  His  father 
always  sat  that  way,  quiet  and  morose.  Andy  couldn't  remember  his 
mother;  all  he  knew  of  her  was  what  Mrs.  O'Mally  had  told  him — 
that  she  was  a  really  good  woman  and  had  died  when  he  was  born.  He 
wondered  if  his  father  would  tell  him  about  her  tonight;  he  would  ask 
him. 

He  approached  his  father  silently  and  touched  him  on  the 
shoulder.     "Daddy,"  he  said;  "tell  me  about  my  mother  tonight." 

His  father  looked  up,  and  a  close  observer  would  have  seen  just 
the  least  little  shadow  of  paternal  love  flicker  in  his  brooding  eyes.  But 
the  boy  didn't  see  it,  and  as  he  stood  by  the  big  chair  he  trembled 
slightly.  Why  did  his  father  always  treat  him  like  this,  he  wondered, 
why  didn't  he  take  him  on  his  knee,  as  other  boy's  fathers  did,  and  talk 
to  him  and  ask  him  questions? 

"You  run  on  in  the  house  and  eat  your  supper,  Son,  and  then 
crawl  in  bed  ^for  we  have  not  to  get  going  early  in  the  morning,  and 
sometime  I'll  tell  you  about  your  mama." 

Andy  turned  and  entered  the  house  but  he  couldn't  eat.  The 
supper  was  cold  and  unpalatable,  and  a  dull  pain  throbbed  in  his  chest. 


52  {IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

He  sought  a  secluded  spot  back  of  the  cow  shed  and  cried  as  if  his  heart 
would  break.  All  his  life  he  had  been  starving  for  some  understanding; 
his  heart  ached  for  a  little  kindly  interest  from  his  father.  He  won- 
dered what  it  would  seem  like  to  go  fishing  with  him,  or  attend  Sun- 
day School  together.  It  fairly  thrilled  him  to  think  of  it,  and  in  his 
ecstacy  he  hugged  the  old  post  which  he  was  leaning  against.  Oh,  if 
his  mother  was  just  alive,  and  he  gave  the  post  an  extra  strong  hug  as 
he  thought  of  it,  how  happy  he  would  be.  What  a  consolation  it 
would  be  to  curl  up  in  her  lap  and  confide  to  her  all  the  achings  of  his 
little  unsophisticated  heart.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  he  had  never  known 
her,  he  felt  that  she  was  near,  somewhere  she  was  shaping  his  destiny; 
slowly  it  forced  itself  upon  him  that  it  was  she  who  had  made  him  with- 
draw from  the  old  gang;  it  was  she  who  made  him  love  his  father,  and 
there,  in  the  shadow  of  the  cowshed  the  soul  of  a  boy  cried  out  to  the 
mother  it  had  never  known.  He  suddenly  felt  calm  and  composed  and 
as  he  searched  his  way  through  the  darkness  to  the  house  his  spirit  almost 
sang  aloud  with  joy,  a  joy  which  he  could  in  no  wise  understand.  That 
night,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  he  offered  up  a  short  prayer.  "Bless 
and  protect  my  darling  mother,"  he  prayed;  "and — and,  please  God — 
bless  daddy." 

In  his  bed,  alone,  Axel  Green  thought  of  his  lad,  and  wondered 
if  he  was  spending  enough  time  with  him.  "Oh,  he  has  enough  friends 
to  keep  him  company,  and  I  would  just  be  in  his  way,"  he  thought. 
Little  did  he  think  that  his  boy  "was  starving  for  just  a  little  show  of 
interest,  even  if  it  was  clumsily  given,  or  did  he  realize,  strong  man 
that  he  was,  that  a  few  words  of  love  could  mean  more  to  a  boy  than  a 
pile  of  gold. 

Andy  awoke  with  a  jerk  the  following  morning,  vaguely  sensing 
that  his  father  was  up  and  that  it  was,  therefore,  time  for  him  to  rise 
also.  Pulling  on  his  overalls,  he  slid  through  his  bed  room  window 
and,  untying  old  jerry  from  the  stall,  drove  in  his  father's  work  horses. 

Axel  Green  stood  in  the  barn  door  as  Andy  came  up  the  lane 
enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust  and  slid  off  Jerry  at  the  Watering  trough. 

"Hurry  up  with  breakfast,"  was  his  only  greeting.  "And  don't 
burn  the  bacon." 

As  Andy  busied  himself  with  dishes  and  broke  the  eggs  in  the 
sizzling  pan,  an  idea  occurred  to  him.  The  Mutual  was  having  a  fath- 
ers and  sons'  outing  and  he  would  ask  his  father  if  he  would  go  with 
him.  He  knew  his  father  became  lonesome  at  times,  and  that  it  would 
do  him  the  world  of  good,  still — his  heart  almost  failed  him  as  he 
heard  his  father's  footsteps  on  the  gravel  path. 

"Daddy,  I — we,"  he  faltered.  "They  are  having  a  fathers  and 
sons'  outing  and"  he  thrilled  at  his  own  words,  "they  want  us  to  go," 
he  said,  thinking  that  some  one's  else  invitation  would  prove  more 
effective  than  his  own;  "and  I'd  like  'awfully'  well  to  go." 

"You  know  I  haven't  any  time  for  such  nonsense."  His  father 
replied.      "The  weeds  are  growing  fast  and  the  Summer-fallow  needs 


WHAT    A  FATHER  MEANS  53 

cultivating  again — but,"  and  his  voice  softened,  "you  go  with  them; 
you  can  take  Jerry,  and  the  boys  will  be  company  enough — I've  got  to 
work  to  keep  the  farm  going,"  he  excused  himself. 

"But  Daddy,  it's  a  father  and  sons'  outing  and  all  the  other  boys 
will  have  their  dads  with  them  and  I'll  be  all  alone,"  he  pleaded. 

"Well,  you  can  adopt  Bishop  Smith  as  your  father  for  the  outing, 
you  know  you  like  him,  but  I'll  have  to  stay  home  and  work  so  that 
I  can  keep  you  in  clothes." 

The  boy  washed  the  dishes,  with  eyes  that  were  blurred  with 
tears.  "I  know  he  doesn't  love  me,"  he  sobbed  to  himself.  "The 
boys  will  all  make  fun  of  me  because  I  wouldn't  help  them  steal  the 
melons.  Oh,  I  can't  go  without  daddy!  I  don't  see  why  I  try  to  be 
good,"  he  cried  broken-heartedly.  "I  might  just  as  well  steal  the  water- 
melons. Father  won't  care  if  I  go  to  jail;  there  is  no  use  in  trying  to 
be  good,  if  no  one  loves  me;  so,  I'll  go  with  the  boys  tonight  and  show 
them  that  my  nerve  isn't  gone." 

He  spent  the  day  in  a  sullen  mood.  After  supper  he  milked  the 
cows  and  washed  the  dishes,  then,  slipping  quietly  through  the  back 
door,  he  sped  swiftly  through  the  dark  to  where  the  gang  was  to  meet. 
He  knew  the  boys  would  be  glad  to  see  him,  and  his  heart  sang  with 
a  reckless  joy  as  he  reiterated  in  his  mind  the  many  years  he  had  led  the 
gang  and  how  they  depended  on  him.  He  thought  of  the  widow 
but  it  was  only  with  a  reckless  bravado.  He  had  forgotten  his  good 
resolutions  as  he  sped  quickly  along  the  tree-bordered  roadway  to  their 
meeting  place. 

As  he  passed  the  widow's  house,  something  almost  stopped  him. 
It  seemed  as  if  he  could  feel,  as  he  had  never  felt  before,  the  spirit  of 
his  dead  mother  drawing  him  back, — clinging  to  him — pleading  with 
him. 

Suddenly,  while  his  mind  was  debating  as  to  what  he  should  do, 
he  heard  the  rustle  of  footsteps  in  the  garden  and  the  sound  of  hushed 
voices,  and  he  knew  that  the  boys  had  already  started  on  their  raid.  He 
was  undecided  as  to  what  he  should  do.  He  longed  to  join  the  boys 
and  the  excitement  of  the  occasion  surged  in  his  blood.  He  started  for 
the  fence,  but  again  he  thought  of  the  widow.  "What  if  she  was  your 
mother?"  A  voice  seemed  to  ask  him,  and  he  turned  back.  "Tell  the 
widow,"  the  voice  said,  and  he  fairly  ran  towards  her  house.  He 
pounded  on  the  door  and,  when  no  answer  came  from  within,  he  be- 
came frantic  and  kicked  and  pounded  as  hard  as  he  could. 

He  heard  a  window  open  and  then  a  frightened  voice  asking: 
"What's  the  matter?" 

"They  are  stealing  your  melons,"  the  boy  whispered  back  to 
her.     "Quick,  they  are  in  the  south  patch." 

The  window  fell  down  and  in  an  incredulously  short  time  the 
door  opened  and  the  widow  stood  before  him  with  a  light  wrap 
about  her  and  a  lantern  in  her  hand. 

"Quick,"  she  said.    "Please  frighten  them  away,  I  feel  afraid." 


54  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

Andy  grabbed  the  lantern  and,  with  his  heart  beating  with  excite- 
ment, he  ran  towards  the  field  swinging  the  lantern  in  circles  around  his 
head. 

As  he  ran  into  the  patch  he  heard  the  starts  of  surprise,  and  then 
fleeting  footsteps  while  dark  shadows  flitted  all  around  him  in  the  dark- 
ness. Thrills  ran  up  and  down  his  spine.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life 
he  drank  of  the  wild,  exultant  spirit  of  the  hunter.  In  the  past  he  had 
enjoyed  the  excitement  of  being  hunted  but  it  was  nothing  when  com- 
pared with  the  thrilling,  intoxicating  and  triumphant  feeling  which 
came  when  fighting  for  the  right. 

When  the  last  of  the  shadows  had  flitted  over  the  fence  and  the 
running  footsteps  died  away  in  the  distance,  he  carefully  picked  his  way 
back  to  the  house. 

The  widow  was  standing  by  the  gate.  She  impulsively  gripped 
his  arms,  and  then,  much  to  Andy's  embarrassment,  she  gave  him  a  big 
hug.  "You  are  a  very  brave  boy,  and  I  am  sure  your  mother  must  be 
proud  of  you,"  she  said. 

"I  haven't  any  mother,"  he  answered  simply.  "I've  only  got  a 
daddy  and  he  don't  care  what  happens  to  me." 

"You  poor  boy,"  the  widow  cried,  "come  in,  and  I  will  make 
some  lemonade  and  you  can  tell  me  all  about  yourself,"  and  taking  him 
by  the  hand  she  led  him  into  her  little  front  room. 

The  boy  tearfully  told  her  all  the  longings  of  his  heart,  and  long 
before  he  was  through,  the  widow  had  put  her  arm  around  him  and 
was  quietly  sobbing  with  him.  Perhaps  she  had  once  fondled  a  boy  for 
she  seemed  to  understand  him,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  the  boy 
had  found  someone  in  whom  he  could  confide  . 

Andy  did  not  know  that  the  widow  visited  his  father  next  day, 
that  she  had  told  him  the  same  story  she  had  heard,  and  had  finally 
left  him  in  tears  and  slipped  quickly  home.  He  was,  therefore,  very 
much  surprised  when  he  returned  and  found  his  father  packing  up  a 
supply  of  food  and  filling  some  sacks  with  grain. 

"I  am  going  on  the  trip  with  you,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  which 
vibrated  with  emotion,  and  then,  ashamed  of  his  weakness,  he  added 
huskily:  "I  don't  suppose  it  will  hurt  the  horses  to  rest  for  a  week." 

"And  so  it  happened  that  when  the  company  of  happy  holiday- 
makers  jostled  their  way  up  the  rugged  canyon  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, there  was  among  them  a  boy  and  his  father  who  both  felt  strange  in 
each  other's  company  but  in  whose  hearts  a  new-born  joy  was  grow- 
ing and  that  love  which  can  only  come  from  companionship  was  slowly 
entering  the  heart  of  each. 

The  week  was  coming  to  an  end.  The  boy  had  spent  a  glorious 
week  and  the  father,  although  he  never  mentioned  it,  had  never  been 
so  happy  before.  As  they  lay  in  bed  at  night  with  the  stars  dancing 
over  head,  while  in  the  distance  a  lone  coyote  was  yapping  spasmodic- 
ally, the  boy  pillowed  his  head  on  his  father's  arm  and  wondered  why 
he  had  not  always  slept  with  his  father. 


WHAT    A    FATHER    MEANS  55 

The  final  day  had  come  and  a  big  fete  had  been  arranged.  They 
had  foot  races  for  old  and  young,  horse  races  and  many  other  athletic 
events.  In  the  shade  of  a  big  covered  wagon,  a  bunch  of  happy,  expect- 
ant, young  boys  watched  some  of  the  older  ones  turn  the  ice  cream 
freezer;  they  had  spent  a  happy  week  and  now  they  wanted  to  see 
their  mothers  but,  still,  they  would  not  let  homesickness  interfere  with 
their  appetite  for  a  dish  of  the  luscious  cream. 

Axel  Green  watched  his  lad  compete  in  the  contests,  and  his  heart 
beat  with  pride  as  he  saw  him  win  prize  after  prize.  While  Andy,  con- 
scious of  his  father's1  admiring  glances,  put  his  whole  heart  into  the  task 
before  him  and,  with  the  dexterity  which  had  made  him  leader  of  the 
gang  at  home,  proved  himself  hero  of  the  day. 

That  night,  as  they  all  stood  in  the  shadow  of  the  spruce  grove 
and  watched  the  silvery  moon  rise  molten  above  the  ragged  mountain 
peaks  in  the  distance,  Axel  Green  put  his  arm  clumsily  about  his  boy 
and  wondered  why  he  had  ever  been  lonesome  at  home,  and  Andy,  re- 
sponding instantly  to  this  little  show  of  affection,  put  his  arm  around 
the  huge  waist  of  his  father  and,  raising  his  eyes  shamelessly  to  the 
luminous  heavens,  thanked  God  in  his  heart  for  the  father  he  had 
found. 
Manchester,  England. 


Thoughts  and  Maxims 

There  should  be  no  such  word  in  the  language  as  "pastime."  Life  is  so 
short  that  every  minute  of  our  time  should  be  used. 

Never  joke  at  the  expense  of  another,  unless  you  are  reasonably  certain 
that  he  or  she  will  enjoy  it  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  much  as  yourself  and  the 
third  party  or  third  parties  present.  You  have  no  right  to  humiliate  or 
injure  the  feelings  of  others  for  the  amusement  of  yourself  and  friends. 

Shun  the  person  who  always  smiles  cynically  when  the  honor  of 
statesmen  and  other  highly  placed  persons  is  mentioned.  It  is  ten-to-one  he 
would  do,  if  opportunity  arose,  what  he  suspects  of  them. 

One  of  the  strangest,  and  often  saddest,  things  is  that  millions  do  not 
profit  from  history,   not  even  when  it  is  made  in  their  own  day. 

Be  slow  to  criticise  another  for  what  you  regard  as  a  shortcoming.  It 
may  be  that  he  has  seen  something  just  as  bad  and  perhaps  worse  in  you,  but 
was  too  considerate,   or  too  refined,   to  mention  it. 

Some  people  carry  the  principle  of  minding  their  own  business  so  far 
that  th'ey  never  think  of  raising  hand  or  voice  when  tyranny  or  vice  is 
stalking  abroad. 

"Business  is  business,"  as  a  justification  of  some  act  that  would  seem 
to  conflict  with  the  life  and  duties  of  a  Christian,  is  often  quoted.  Has 
anyone  ever  heard  this  worn-out  phrase  used  the  other  way  about,  "Religion 
is  Religion?" 

If  socialism  had  been  founded  on  love  instead  of  hate,  it  would  have 
succeeded  long  ago. 

There  are  people  who,  once  deceived,  would  rather  be  kept  deceived  than 
-uffer  the  shock  of  disillusionment. 

^hat  some  people  boast  of  as  their  broadmindedness  may  be  nothing 
but  an  inability  to  think  for  themselves. — Fred  L.  W.  Bennett. 


MESSAGES   FROM  THE  MISSIONS 
A  House  with  a  History 

This  house  is  located  on  the  St.  John  river,  at  Middle  Southampton, 
York  county,  New  Brunswick.  Elder  Owen  Grant  of  Granger  is  standing  in 
the  foreground.  More  than  fifty  years  ago,  so  we  were  told  by  an  elderly 
man,  two  elders  were  holding  meeting  in  this  house,  when  a  mob  of  men 
broke  in  the  door,  beat  the  elders  and  drove  them  out  of  town.      The  resi- 


dents of  the  house  moved  to  Utah,  and  it  stands  today,  as  it  was  left  more  than 
fifty  years  ago,  a  witness  against  this  act  of  violence.  It  has  been  twenty 
years  since  the  last  elders  labored  in  this  particular  part  of  the  province,  yet 
nearly  every  one  remembered  them.  In  spite  of  the  treatment  imposed  upon 
our  predecessors,  the  people  endeavoring  to  starve  them  out,  we  were  treated 
in  a  very  friendly  manner.  Few  people  have  refused  our  literature,  and  not 
once  in  nearly  a  month  was  it  necessary  for  us  to  sleep  out.  In  this  time  we 
covered  nearly  two  hundred  miles  on  foot.  The  elders  of  the  New  Brunswick 
conference  are  all  rejoicing  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  send  best  wishes  to 
all  similarly  engaged. — Walter  F.  Ririe,  Conference  President,  Box  23,  St. 
John,  N.  B.,  Canada. 


Twenty-two  Baptized 


An  inspiring  semi-annual  conference  was  held  at  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
on  the  28  th  and  29  th  of  August.  President  and  Sister  John  T.  Lilly  white 
were  in  attendance.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  manifested  in  rich  abundance. 
We  held  four  meetings.  The  elders  of  the  Amsterdam  conference  report  en- 
joying their  labors  immensely.  We  are  trying  our  best  and  working  hard,  and 
it  is  indeed  gratifying  to  see  some  of  the  results  of  our  efforts  through  the  help 
and  grace  of  the  Lord.  In  the  last  three  months  we  have  had  the  privilege  of 
baptizing  twenty-two  souls  into  the  Church,  and  we  see  a  general  improve- 
ment in  all  lines  of  the  work.  Our  meetings  are  well  attended  by  both  stran- 
gers and  Saints.  Sometimes  we  have  as  many  as  thirty-five  investigators  pres- 
ent at  our  meetings. — William  F.  Ashton,  Conference  Secretary. 


MESSAGES   FROM   THE  MISSIONS 


57 


ELDERS  LABORING  IN  THE  AMSTERDAM  CONFERENCE 
Front  row,  left  to  right:  C.  Fred  Berghout,  Ogden;  William  F.  Ashton, 
Salt  Lake  City;  Martinus  Vuyk,  conference  president,  Salt  Lake  City;  Peter  Noorda, 
Salt  Lake  City;  Albert  R.  Venema,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Second  row:  George 
A.  Grover,  Parker  City,  Idaho;  Chas  P.  Mietus,  Ogden;  Rupert  Ravston,  Clarkston, 
Utah;  W.  G.  Esplin,  Cedar  City,  Utah;  Royal  G.  Smith,  Salt  Lake  City;  Samuel 
Reed  Andrus,   Ucon,   Idaho. 

The  Martinez  Sunday  School 


This  school  was  organized  in  Martinez,  California,  on  the  27th  of  June, 
1926,  under  the  direction  of  President  W.  Aird  MacDonald  of  the  Oakland 
branch.  At  its  organization  there  were  fifty-six  souls  present.  The  picture 
was  taken  on  a  return  visit  by  President  MacDonald  on  August  22,  1926.  Ten 
months  ago  Martinez  was  visited  by  Elders  David  F.  Haymore  and  J.  Lyman 


58 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Fawson,  who  remained  there  two  nights,  one  at  the  h6me  of  Brother  and 
Sister  John  H.  Bunce,  where  we  held  a  cottage  meeting,  and  the  second  night 
with  the  Bunce  family  and  their  next-door  neighbors,  who  were  not  members 
of  the  Church.  "Again,  during  the  first  week  of  May  this  year,  we  visited 
Martinez,  accompanied  by  Elders  Anthony  T.  Hansen,  Russell  P.  Minson  and 
Wm.  C.  Drage  from  Vallejo.  Three  "Mormon"  families  were  located  instead 
of  one  this  time,  and  another  cottage  meeting  was  held-.  Elders  were  chosen 
to  tract  the  town,  and  other  "Mormon"  families  were  soon  located,  and  on  the 
27th  of  June  an  organization  of  the  Sunday  school  was  effected,  with  Brother 
John  H.  Bunce  as  superintendent.  A  recent  communication  from  Elder  Leo 
H.  Nielsen,  in  charge,  reads:  'We  have  now  located  twenty-two  families,  a 
total  of  seventy  souls.  Our  attendance  last  Sunday  was  the  largest  yet.'  So 
the  work  is  growing.  In  behalf  of  the  missionaries  of  the  San  Francisco  con- 
ference, we  express  our  appreciation  of  the  Era  each  month." — David  F.  Hay- 
more,  Conference  President. 

Quit  Tea  and  Coffee  When  They  Hear  the  Gospel 

We  are  informed  by  President  John  G.  Allred  that  it  had  been  just  six 
weeks  (Oct.  6,  1926)  since  the  first  elders  to  labor  in  Cambridge.  Minnesota, 
arrived.  Since  that  date  there  has  been  organized  a  Sunday  School  composed 
entirely  of  non-members,  who  desire  to  learn  of  the  messages  which  the  mis- 
sionaries have  to  offer  them.  Regular  classes  are  conducted  and  much  enthu- 
siasm shown.  Street  meetings  are  also  being  held,  and  the  attendance  ranges 
from  seventy-five  to  three  hundred  persons.  The  elders  obtain  advertising 
through  the  medium  of  the  rural  mail  carriers  and  the  country  newspapers. 
At  the  close  of  a  meeting  in  an  old  meeting  house,  in  one  of  the  towns,  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  said  to  the  elders,  "This  old  church  house  has  stood  here 
for  fourteen  years.  We've  had  preachers  come  from  the  twin  cities,  but  the 
sermons  given  here  tonight  by  you  young  men  are  the  best  that  have  ever  been 
preached  within  these  four  walls."  Many  of  the  residents  of  the  town  in 
which  the  elders  are  laboring  have  given  up  their  tea  and  coffee,  and  are  trying 
their  best  to  live  the  gospel  as  they  are  being  taught  it.  "We  believe  that 
many  will  apply  for  baptism  and  a  goodly  harvest  is  expected." 


Elders  and  members  of  the  Sunday  school.     Left:       President  John  G.  Allred  and 
Elder  Alma  N.  Redding.      Right:      Elder  John  V.  Johansen. 


MESSAGES  FROM   THE  MISSIONS 


59 


British  Mission  Commences  Fall  Conferences 

The  Fall-conference  season  of  the  British  mission  was  ushered  in  on  Sun- 
day, September  5,  when  the  Liverpool  conference  convened  at  Blackburn,  Eng- 
land. All  three  sessions  were  attended  by  a  large  number  of  earnest  investi- 
gators and  resident  members.  The  conference  president  reported  that  twenty- 
two  baptisms  had  been  performed  thus  far  this  year,  and  that  resident  mem- 
bers throughout  all  the  branches  of  the  conference  were  showing  increased 
activity.  The  missionaries  have  been  tracting  the  country  towns  and  villages 
that  had  not  been  visited  by  our  elders  for  many  years,  and  in  all  our  accom- 
plishments we  recognize  the  hand  of  the  Lord.  Aside  from  the  general  con- 
ference sessions,  separate  meetings  of  the  Mutual  Improvement  Association. 
Relief  Society,  the  Priesthood  and  the  traveling  elders,  were  held,  in  each  of 
which  instructions  were  given  by  President  or  Sister  James  E.  Talmage.  We 
receive  the  Era  regularly  and  appreciate  it  very  much,  because  we  derive  much 
good  from  reading  and  studying  its  contents.  We  wish  it  continued  success. 
— Wilford  L.  Hansen,  President  Liverpool  Conference. 


ELDERS   AT  LIVERPOOL  CONFERENCE 

Front  row,  left  to  right:  Welden  G.  Green,  Salt  Lake  City;  Wilford  L.  Hansen, 
conference  president,  Richfield;  James  E.  Talmage,  mission  president,  Salt  Lake  City; 
David  M.  Kennedy,  conference  clerk,  Riverdale;  David  W.  Eardley,  Baker,  Oregon. 
Back  row:  Harry  I.  Willmore,  Logan;  Kenneth  A.  Nielson,  Emmett,  Idaho;  Robert 
M.  Adams,  Cedar  City;  Kendall  D.  Garff,  Salt  Lake  City;  Horace  L.  Barker,  Ogden; 
Jesse  R.  Smith,  Salt  Lake  City;  Grant  W.  Wilde,  Union,  Oregon;  Marvin  P. 
Thain,    Logan. 

The  Lord's  Mysterious  Way 


The  semi-annual  conference  of  the  Long  Beach  conference,  California 
mission,  was  held  at  Santa  Ana  on  June  26,  27  and  28,  1926.  Mission 
President  Joseph  W.  McMurrin  was  in  attendance  and  gave  valuable  admoni- 
tion and  instruction  to  missionaries  and  Saints  alike.  Among  those  present 
were  two  recent  converts,  who  were  noticeably  impressed  with  the  spirit  of  the 
occasion.  Their  conversion  somewhat  exemplifies  the  quotation,  "The  Lord 
moves  in  a  mysterious  way."  In  praying  and  searching  for  the  true  Church, 
the  wife  saw  in  a  dream  an  elder  conferring  the  Holy  Ghost  through  the  lay- 


60 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


ing  on  of  hands.  She  dreamed  that  she  also  received  the  ordinance,  and  im- 
mediately knew  that  the  man  officiating  had  the  authority  of  God,  as  she  felt 
a  change  come  over  her.  Several  months  later  a  short-term  missionary.  Elder 
Heber  T.  Willis,  tracted  the  home  of  these  people,  and  the  woman  immedi- 
ately recognized  him  as  the  man  seen  in  her  dream.  Elder  Willis  explained 
the  principles  of  the  Gospel  to  them,  during  the  course  of  several  visits,  and 
after  one  month  they  were  both  baptized.  The  missionaries  of  the  Long 
Beach  conference  look  forward  with  keen  anticipation  to  the  arrival  of  the 
Era  each  month.  It  is,  indeed,  a  missionary  in  itself,  and  we  appreciate  thr- 
kindness  of  the  authorities  in  sending  it  to  us.  This  conference  is  back  of  '.he 
Era. — T.  Dclice  Andelin,  Conference  President. 


Top  row,  left  to  right:  Ethel  H.  Chadwick,  Jean  We:t  Hawkes,  Jane  F. 
Stewart,  Edwin  J.  Neuffer,  Virelda  West  (released),  E.  Joseph  West  (released). 
Center  row:  Cora  Jcffry,  Thomas  E.  Doman  (released),  Mission  President  Joseph 
W.  McMurrin,  Thomas  E.  Cheney,  former  conference  president  (released) ,  Stella 
Mae  Rees.  Bottom  row:  W.  D.  Cranney  (79  years  of  age),  Marion  Tanner 
(released),  Lois  Webb,  Iris  Coombs,  O.  Robert  McKinley,  Thomas  D.  Andclin, 
conference  president. 

President  Talmage  Visits  Norway 


The  Narvik  branch,  Norway,  is  the  most  northern  branch  of  the  Church, 
not  only  in  that  country,  but  in  the  world.  "This  branch  was  organized  in 
1903.  From  that  time  until  the  great  war,  in  1914,  we  had  elders  from  Zion 
laboring  here  almost  constantly,  but  in  1914  they  were  released,  and  we  have 
since  taken  care  of  ourselves.  In  1922  the  branch  was  reorganized  and  I  was 
set  apart  as  president.  Since  that  time  we  have  baptized  two  and  three  persons 
each  year.  Elder  Hyrum  Lynn  Jensen,  Jerome,  Idaho,  is  laboring  here  now. 
On  the  1st  and  2nd  of  August,  this  year,  we  had  a  visit  from  President  and 


•MESSAGES   FROM   THE  MISSIONS 


61 


Sister  Talmagc  and  our  mission  president,  Martin  Christopherson.  Four  meet- 
ings were  held  and  many  friends  and  Saints  attended  them,  and  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  an  apostle  of  the  Lord,  Jesus  Christ.  I  am  a  local  elder,  but 
resided  in  Utahfrom  May,  1910,  to  September,  1911,  and  also  one  and  a  half 
years  in  Idaho.  With  kind  regards  to  all  the  Saints  in  Zion  from  us  in  this 
land,  sincerely  your  brother  in  the  gospel." — Emit  John  Evensen,  Narvik, 
Norway. 


Front  row,  left  to  right:  Edmund,  Olaf,  Ellen  and  Henry  Evensen.  Second 
row:  Hausine  Even  en  and  our  baby,  Rolf  Evensen,  May  Booth  Talmage,  Mission 
President  Jamej  E.  Talmage,  Mission  President  Martin  Christopherson,  Aslang  Sorensen, 
Marie  Lassen,  Kirsten  Hind.  Third  row:  Johanne  Evensen,  Branch  President  Emil 
Even;en,  Hyrum  Lynn  Jensen,  missionary,  Jerome,  Idaho.  Fourth  row:  Henry 
Sorensen,  Theodore  Karolinssen,  Olaus  Evensen. 


Working  in  Untrodden  Fields 


From  Conference  President  James  H.  Bowns,  we  learn  that  the  elders  of 
the  Sheffield  conference,  of  the  British  mission,  have  been  assiduously  engaged 
in  proclaiming  to  the  people  of  their  section  the  glad  tidings  of  the  restored 
gospel  of  Christ.  To  quote  from  the  letter:  "We  have  departed  from  the 
well  beaten  paths  and  highways  of  the  cities,"  say  Elders  James  S.  Chadwick 
and  Theodore  N.  Hutchings,  "and  have  entered  into  the  quiet,  peaceful  lanes 
of  the  country  district.  Here  amid  the  so-called  simple,  yet  sincere,  people,  we 
have  sown  the  seeds  of  truth  and  righteousness.  In  the  course  of  our  travels, 
we  have  made  the  acquaintance  of  people  who  have  never  heard  of  the  so- 
called  'Mormons.'  In  walking  from  town  to  town,  from  village  to  village, 
canvassing  the  country  on  our  way,  and  tracting,  holding  open-air  meetings 
and  cottage  meetings,  we  have  been  able  to  distribute  a  great  amount  of  lit- 
erature, and  gained  entrance  into  the  homes  of  the  people,  making  many  friend- 
ships. By  our  efforts  we  have  broken  old  prejudices,  and  created  in  the  people 
a  desire  to  hear  more  of  our  message.  The  picture  herewith  portrays  Elder 
Theodore  N.  Hutchings  speaking  to  a  group  of  people  who  have  assembled 


62 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


on  a  street  corner  to  listen  to  his  few  remarks  regarding  the  plan  of  life  and 
salvation.  In  many  of  these  meetings,  our  friends  have  protected  us  from  the 
railings  of  our  enemies,  and  in  many  cases  they  have  materially  aided  us.     A 


great  deal  of  good  has  been  accomplished  by  our  efforts,  and  we  look  forward 
to  the  harvest  of  the  seeds  that  perchance  may  have  found  a  resting  place  in  the 
warm  hearts  of  some  kind  souls." — Elders  James  S.  Chad  wick  and  Theodore 
N.  Hutchings,  Sheffield  Conference,  British  mission. 

Six  Hundred  Saints  in  Forty-one  Counties 

Elders  Joseph  H.  Seeley  of  Hayden,  Utah,  and  Orion  N.  Follett  of 
Logan,  Utah,  have  enjoyed  unusual  success  laboring  in  West  Virginia  North 
conference.  In  this  conference  there  are  six  hundred  Saints,  scattered  through 
forty-one  counties.      Many  of  these  members  have  not  seen  elders  for  many 


Missionaries    covering    territory    by    help    of    a    Ford. 


MESSAGES   FROM   THE  MISSIONS 


63 


years.  Living  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  hills  and  in  a  scattered  condition,  few 
missionaries  have  been  able  to  cover  the  territory.  By  the  help  of  Elder 
Follett's  Ford,  these  conditions  have  been  overcome,  and  the  gospel  has  been 
preached  to  many  who  are  hungry  to  hear  more.  Three  thousand  miles  have 
been  traveled  in  sixty  days,  thus  affording  opportunity  of  distributing  much 
literature  also.  Many  cottage  meetings  have  been  held  with  the  Saints.  One 
good  brother,  Ove  Lester,  had  not  seen  the  elders  for  twelve  years.  Another 
investigator  was  overjoyed  to  see  them  again,  saying,  "It  is  twenty-one  years 
since  I  saw  the  'Mormon'  elders."  The  Era  is  a  welcome  monthly  visitor. — 
Clifford  L.  Madsen,  President  West  Virginia  Conference  North,  Eastern  States 
Mission. 

Four  Baptisms  in  Gavle,  Sweden 

Elder  Wilford  F.  Peterson,  writing  from  the  Swedish  mission,  informs 
us  that  the  work  is  progressing  there  quite  satisfactorily,  a  number  of  earnest 
investigators  having  attended  the  meetings.  "We  have  had  four  baptisms,"  he 
says,  "to  date  this  year,  and  feel  that  others  are  ready  to  take  the  step  soon." 
At  their  Fall  conferences  the  meetings  have  been  well  attended  and  much  inter- 
est shown  by  both  Saints  and  investigators.  The  elders  have  been  tracting  a 
new  district  this  year,  leaving  the  local  brethren  to  take  charge  of  the  meetings 
at  times  in  the  cities. 


ELDERS  OF  GAVLE  CONFERENCE,  SWEDEN 
Standing,  left  to  right:      Knut  T.  Borg,  Wilford  F.  Peterson  and  J.  C.   Bsrgland. 
Sitting:       Andrew    Johnson,    Stockholm;    Gustaf    E.    Anderson,    and    mission    president 
John  H.  Anderson. 


Elders  Walk  to  Conference 


The  greatest  conference  of  the  German-Austrian  mission  thus  far  was 
held  on  August  14  and  15  at  Dresden,  the  mission  headquarters.  Every  e'der 
of  the  entire  mission  was  in  attendance,  and  at  least  75%  of  them  had  walked 
from  their  various  fields  of  labor,  thus  bringing  the  gospel  message  to  the 
attention  of  the  country  people.      Since  the  division  of  the  German-Austrian 


L*>'lM 


#.:*  8  3ms 


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■     -Y«t£. 


■  '  3  V  J^" 


|  }fc-*V> 


MESSAGES   FROM  THE  MISSIONS  65 

mission  from  the  Swiss-German  mission  in  August,  1925,  an  earnest  effort 
has  been  made  to  do  more  country  work.  The  main  session  of  the  conference 
was  held  on  Sunday  evening,  August  15,  which  was  attended  by  approximately 
850  persons.  On  Monday  and  Tuesday,  August  16  and  17,  an  elders'  con- 
vention was  held,  at  which  every  missionary  was  given  the  opportunity  to  ex- 
press himself.  The  experiences  related  were  both  interesting  and  inspiring. 
In  one  instance  the  elders  found  a  woman  who  had  been  praying  that  same 
day  that  the  Lord  would  send  her  some  knowledge  of  the  true  Church.  She 
is  now  engrossed  in  the  study  of  the  principles  of  salvation  which  the  elders 
presented  to  her.  At  the  conclusion  of  each  missionary  meeting,  each  of  which 
was  continued  for  ten  hours,  a  banquet  was  held,  the  large  depot  restaurant 
having  been  hired  for  the  occasion,  and  about  one  hundred  twenty  participated. 
At  the  banquet  on  the  second  evening,  Sisters  Eliza  W.  Tadje,  Ann  Cannon 
and  Lucy  Van  Cott  were  present.  Sisters  Cannon  and  Van  Cott,  who  were 
touring  Europe  together,  displayed  a  genial  American  spirit.  At  this  banquet 
several  excellent  toasts  and  speeches  were  made,  "What  America  Means  to  Me" 
and  "Our  Pioneers"  being  the  principal  themes.  The  good  results  of  both  the 
conference  and  the  missionary  convention  are  already  apparent.  Shortly  after 
the  elders  had  returned  to  their  various  fields  of  labor,  thirteen  friends  in  the 
Dresden  branch  alone  entered  the  waters  of  baptism. — Robert  R.  Burton,  Presi- 
dent Dresden  Branch. 


Our  Baby 

Thou  mystery  of  creation. 

What  do  I  see  in  thee? 
A  little  cherub  of  spirit  land  v 

Out  of  eternity, 
Come  here  to  earth,  thy  former  self 

Forgotten  and  unknown, 
And  through  probation  of  earthly  life 

„To  return  to  the  Savior's  throne? 

Am  I  aware  of  the  treasure 

That  God  has  loaned  to  me? 
Can  I  assure  a  parent's  love — 

The  responsibility 
Of  this  my  place  in  the  physical  world 

In  advancing  the  human  race — 
And  through  my  parenthood  insure 

This  child  in  the  Savior's  grace? 

For  lo !  it  guarantees  to  me 
A  partnership  with  accord: 
I  am  an  appointed  co-worker 

In  the  universe  of  my  Lord. 
So,  welcome  thee,  little  cherub, 

Coming  from  Heaven  above! 
We  are  both  of  God's  own  kingdom 
And  one  in  the  bonds  of  love! 
Los  Angeles,  Calif.  JOSEPH  LONGKING  TOWNSEND. 


Mission  of  the  Saints  to  Declare  the  Gospel  by 
Word  and  Act* 

By  President  Heber  J.  Grant 

I  am  very  thankful  indeed  for  the  opportunity  of  meeting  with 
the  Saints  in  another  general  conference.  J  rejoice  in  the  very  splendid 
turnout  that  we  see  here  today,  and  realize  that  even  with  the  overflow 
meeting  in  the  Assembly  Hall  there  are  many  who  will  be  disappointed 
in  not  getting  room  in  this  building  or  the  adjoining  one.  But  it  is 
estimated  that  fully  one  hundred  thousand  people  will  hear  these  services 
today  over  the  radio. 

I  understand  that  the  amplifier  installed  here  will  make  it  entirely 
unnecessary  for  me  to  raise  my  voice  beyond  that  which  would  be 
needed  in  an  ordinary  hall.  I  am  very  glad  of  this  for  the  reason  that 
exerting  oneself  in  order  to  be  heard  is  very  much  more  of  a  strain 
than  to  talk  in  just  an  ordinary  voice.  I  should  be  very  glad  to 
know  if  any  in  ithis  audience  are  failing  to  hear  distinctly  what  I  am 
saying  at  the  present  time.  If  so,  will  they  kindly  raise  their  hands. 
I  discover  that  everybody  is  hearing  my  remarks,  and  I  am  not  talking 
any  louder  than  would  be  necessary  in  a  room  containing  only  a  few 
hundred  people. 

I  earnestly  and  sincerely  desire  the  faith  and  prayer's  of  the  Latter- 
day  Saints  to  attend  not  only  myself  but  all  of  the  speakers  during 
this  conference,  that  they  may  be  inspired  by  the  Lord  to  say  those 
things  which  will  be  calculated  in  their  nature  to  encourage  the  Saints 
to  renewed  diligence  in  discharging  the  duties  and  obligations  that 
rest  upon  them  as  members  of  the  Church. 

Changes  in  Officers 

It  will  be  interesting  to  you,  no  doubt,  to  know  regarding  the 
changes  that  have  taken  place  since  our  last  conference. 

The  Wayne  stake  now  has  a  new  president — Brother  William   F.   Webster. 

Mission  president:   released  and  appointed,   during   the  past  six  months: 

Mark  V.  Coombs  has  been  released  as  president  of  the  Tongan  mission,  and  J.  A. 
Cahoon  appointed  to  succeed  him. 

Eugene  J.  Neff  has  been  released  as  president  of  the  Hawaiian  mission,  and  Wil- 
liam M.  Waddoups  appointed  to  succeed  hfm. 

J.  Wyley  Sessions  has  been  released  as  president  of  the  South  African  mission, 
and  Samuel  Martin  appointed  as  his  successor. 

Melvin  J.  Ballard  has  been  released  as  president  of  the  South  American  mission, 
and   Karl  B.   R.    Stoof  appointed  as  his  successor. 

Brother  K  nn.th  L.  Haymore  has  been  released  as  acting-president  of  th:  Mexican 


^Opening  address  at  the  semi-annual  conference,  October  3,    1926. 


MISSION    OF    THE    SAINTS  6  7 

mission  on  account  of  the  return  from  South  America  of  Rey  L.  Pratt,  president  of 
that  mission. 

Hyrum  W.  Valentine  has  been  appointed  to  succeed  Fred  Tadje  as  president  of  thi 
German-Austrian  mission. 

The  following  new  wards  have  been  organized: 

Eden  ward,  Minidoka  stake.  Conda  ward,  Idaho  stake. 

Emerson  ward,  Minidoka  stake.  Wendell  ward,  Blaine  stake. 

Hazelton  ward,  Minidoka  stake.  Jewett  ward,  Young  stake. 

Ogden  19  th  ward,  Weber  stake.  Ely  ward,  Nevada  stake. 

New  Stakes  Organized 

Lyman  stake,  formerly  a  part  of  Woodruff  stake,  President  Melvin  H.  Rollins. 

Nevada  stake,   formerly  a  part  of  North  Weber  stake,  Carl  K.  Conrad,  president. 

Bishops  who  have  died:  William  C.  Hegstrom  of  Central  ward,  Bannock  stake, 
and  Bishop  John  A.  Hunt  of  St.  Charles,  Bear  Lake  stake. 

At  the  present  time  we  have  9  6  stakes  of  Zion,  915  wards  and  74  independent 
branches,  making  9  89  warda  and  branches.     And  we  have  2  7  missions. 

Alma's  Desire  to  Cry  Repentance 
I  will  read  from  the  29th  chapter  of  Alma  in  the  Book  of  Mor- 


"O  that  I  were  an  angel,  and  could  have  the  wish  of  mine  heart,  that  I  might 
go  forth  and  speak  with  the  trump  of  God,  with  a  voice  to  shake  the  earth,  and  cry 
repentance  unto  every  people! 

"Yea,  I  would  declare  unto  every  soul,  as  with  the  voice  of  thunder,  repentance 
and  the  plan  of  redemption,  that  they  should  repent  and  come  unto  our  God,  that  there 
might  not  be  more  sorrow  upon  all  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"But  behold,  I  am  a  man,  and  do  sin  in  my  wish;  for  I  ought  to  be  content 
with  the  things  which  the  Lord  hath  allotted  unto  me. 

"I  ought  not  to  harrow  up  in  my  desires,  the  firm  decree  of  a  just  God,  for  I 
know  that  he  granteth  unto  men  according  to  their  desire,  whether  it  be  unto  death  or 
unto  life;  yea,  I  know  that  he  allotteth  unto  men  according  to  their  wills,  whether  thev 
be  unto  salvation  or  unto  destruction. 

"Yea,  and  I  know  that  good  and  evil  have  come  before  all  men;  he  that  knoweth 
not  good  from  evil  is  blameless;  but  he  that  knoweth  good  and  evil,  to  him  it  is  given 
according  to  his  desires,  whether  he  desireth  good  or  evil,  life  or  death,  joy  or  remorse 
of  conscience. 

"Now,  seeing  that  I  know  these  things,  why  should  I  desire  more  than  to  perform 
the  work  to  which  I  have  been  called? 

"Why  should  I  desire  that  I  were  an  angel,  that  I  could  speak  unto  all  the  ends 
of  the  earth? 

"For  behold,  the  Lord  doth  grant  unto  all  nations,  of  their  own  nation  and 
tongue,  to  teach  his  word,  yea,  in  wisdom,  all  that  he  seeth  fit  that  they  should  have; 
therefore  we  see  that  the  Lord  doth  counsel  in  wisdom,  according  to  that  which  is 
just   and   true. 

"I  know  that  which  the  Lord  hath  commanded  me,  and  I  glory  in  it.  I  do  not 
glory  of  myself,  but  I  glory  in  that  which  the  Lord  hath  commanded  me;  yea,  and  this 
is  my  glory,  that  perhaps  I  may  be  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  to  bring  some 
soul  to  repentance;   and  this  is  my  joy." 

The  Joy  of  Missionary  Work 

I  believe  that  every  Latter-day  Saint  who  has  received  a  testimony 
of  the  divinity  of  the  work  in  which  we  are  engaged  has  this  same 
feeling  that  Alma  had — a  desire  that  all  tb.3  world  might  hear  the 
testimony  of  the   gospel  of  the   Lord  Jesus  Christ.   When   men   and 


68  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

v/omen  receive  a  testimony  of  the  divine  mission  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  they  are  anxious  that  all  the  world  should  have  that  same 
knowledge  and  faith.  They  are  anxious  that  the  gospel  should  go  to 
every  honest  soul.  And  there  is  no  other  labor  in  all  the  world  that 
brings  to  the  human  heart,  judging  from  my  own  personal  experience, 
more  joy,  peace  and  serenity  than  proclaiming  the  gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  I  remember  that  while  I  was  laboring  in  Japan,  on  ac- 
count of  my  failure  to  learn  the  language,  I  was  not  entirely  happy 
in  my  work  there.  I  remember  going  out  into  the  woods, 
kneeling  down  and  praying  to  God  that,  when  my  work 
was  finished  there,  I  would  appreciate  it  if  I  were  called  to  the  British 
Isles  to  succeed  Brother  Francis  M.  Lyman.  Shortly  after  uttering 
that  prayer  I  received  a  cable:  "Come  home  on  (the  first  vessel." 
When  I  arrived  home  President  Smith  told  me  that  they  had  decided 
to  send  me  to  Europe  to  succeed  Brother  Lyman.  He  said:  "We 
realize  that  the  two  years  or  more  that  you  have  been  in  Japan  have 
been  anything  but  satisfactory  from  the  standpoint  ipf  the  joy  that 
comes  into  the  hearts  of  the  missionaries  in  bringing  souls  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth,  and  we  want  you  to  have  at  least  a  year  of  real, 
genuine  missionary  experience."  When  I  went  into  his  office  and 
bade  him  good-bye,  and  said,  "I  will  see  you  in  p  year,"  he  said,  "We 
have  decided  to  make  it  a  year  and  a  half."  I  said,  "Multiply  it  by  two 
and  say  [nothing  about  it,  and  it  will  please  me,"  and  that  is  exactly 
what  he  did.  I  was  there  a  little  over  three  years,  and  never  have  I  had 
sweeter  joy,  more  genuine  satisfaction  in  my  life  than  during  those 
three  years,  when  I  had  no  thought  except  the  spreading  of  the  gospel 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Worth   of  Souls 

We  have  recorded  in  the  1 8th  section  of  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants the  following: 

"Remember  the  worth  of  souls  is  great  in  the  sight  of  God; 

"For,  behold,  the  Lord  your  Redeemer  suffered  death  in  the  flesh;  wherefore  be 
suffered   the  pain  of  all   m:n,    that  all  men  might   rep;nt  and  come  unto  him. 

"And  he  hath  risen  again  from  the  dead,  that  he  might  bring  all  men  unto  him. 
on    conditions   of   repentance. 

"And  how  great  is  his  joy  in  the  soul  that  repenteth! 

"Wherefore,  you  are  called  to  cry  repentance  unto  this  people. 

"And  if  it  so  be  that  you  should  labor  all  your  days  in  crying  repentance  unto 
this  people,  and  bring,  save  it  be  one  soul  unto  me,  how  great  shall  be  your  joy  with 
him  in  the  kingdom  of  my  father! 

"And  now,  if  your  joy  will  be  great  with  one  soul  that  you  have  brought  unto 
me  into  th:  kingdom  of  my  father,  how  great  will  b;  your  joy  if  you  should  bring 
many  souls  unto  me! 

"Behold,  you  have  my  gospel  before  you,  and  my  rock,  and  my  salvation. 

"Ask  the  Father  in  my  name,  in  faith  believing  that  you  shall  receive,  and  you 
shall  have  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  manifesteth  all  things  which  are  expedient  unto  the 
children  of  men. 

"And   if  you  have  not   faith,  hop;  and  charity,   you  can  do  nothing.       *       *       * 

"Behold,  Jesus  Christ  is  the  name  which  is  given  of  the  Father,  and  there  is  none 
other  name  given  whereby  man  can  be  saved." 


MISSION    OF    THE    SAINTS  69 

The  foregoing  revelation  was  given  through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith  to  Oliver  Cowdery  and  David  Whitmer,  and  they  were  instructed 
to  seek  out  twelve  apostles  who  should  have  the  spirit  of  the  mission 
to  go  forth  and  proclaim  the  gospel  of  glad  tidings  which  the  voice 
out  of  the  heavens  declared  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  and  Sidney 
Rigdon. 

Men  Have  Seen  Christ  in  Our  Day 

"And  this  is  the  gospel,  the  glad  tidings,  which  the  voice  out  of  the  heavens  bore 
record  unto  us — 

"That  he  came  into  the  world,  even  Jesus,  to  be  crucified  for  the  world,  and  to 
bear  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  to  sanctify  the  world,  and_  to  cleanse  it  from  all  un- 
righteousness; 

"That  through  him  all  might  be  saved  whom  the  Father  had  put  into  his  power 
and  made  by  him."       (D.   K  C.   76:40-42.) 

In  that  same  revelation  we  find,  and  I  have  repeated  it  time  and 
time  again: 

"And  now,  after  the  many  testimonies  which  have  been  given  of  him,  this  is  the 
testimony,  last  of  all,  which  we  give  of  him:  That  he  lives! 

"For  we  saw  him,  even  on  the  right  hand  of  God;  and  we  heard  the  voice  bear- 
ing record  that  he  is  the  only  begotten  of  the  father — 

"That  by  him,  and  through  him,  and  of  him,  the  worlds  are  and  were  created, 
and   the   inhabitants    thereof   are   begotten   sons   and   daughter,   unto   God." 

We  have  this  testimony  to  bear  to  the  world,  that  men  in  our 
day  have  seen  Jesus  Christ;  that  he  has  restored  to  the  earth  the  gospel 
of  life  and  salvation;  that  in  the  Kirtland  temple  the  Savior  appeared 
to  Oliver  Cowdery  and  Joseph  Smith,  also  Moses,  Elias  and  Elijah, 
and  that  the  keys  of  every  dispensation  of  the  gospel  were  committed 
into  the  hands  of  those  two  men.  They  were  given  this  authority,  and 
it  is  a  source  of  great  joy.      (Doc  and  Cov.  110.) 

What  the  Church  is  Doing  to  Proclaim  the  Gospel 

I  rejoice  in  announcing  that  the  Church  is  doing  more  today  in 
the  spreading  of  the  gospel,  and  it  has  a  larger  body  of  missionaries 
in  the  field  proclaiming  the  gospel,  than  at  any  other  time  in  its  history. 
A  year  ago  we  called  for  volunteers  of  men  of  maturity,  men  of  ex- 
perience and  testimony,  men  who  were  seasoned  in  the  gospel,  to  go 
out  into  the  field  for  a  period  of  six  months.  Hundreds  responded  to 
that  call,  and  I  have  listened  to  some  of  the  most  remarkable  and 
wonderful  testimonies  of  the  manifestations  and  blessings  of  the  Lord  to 
those  men,  as  I  have  conversed  with  them  upon  their  return  home, 
that  I  have  ever  heard.  The  signs  verily  follow  the  believer  in  this 
Church,  and  people  receive  the  witness  of  the  Spirit  wherever  the  gospel 
is  preached. 

The  Command  to  Preach  the  Gospel  Supreme 

I  have  culled  out  a  few  quotations  from  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants that  I  would  like  to  read  here: 


70  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

"Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  acting  in  the 
authority  which  I  have  given  you,  baptizing  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 

"And  he  that  believeth  shall  be  blest  with  signs  following,  even  as  it  is  written." 
(Section    68:8,    10.) 

"And  this  Gospel  shall  be  preached  unto  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people. 

"And  the  servants  of  God  shall  go  forth,  saying  with  a  loud  voice:  Fear  God 
and  give  glory  to  him,   for  the  hour  of  hh  judgment  is  come; 

"And  worship  him  that  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains 
of   water."       (Section    133:3  7-39.) 

"I,  the  Lord,  am  bound  when  ye  do  what  I  say;  but  when  ye  do  not  what  I 
say,   ye  have  no  promise."       (Section    82:10.) 

The  one  supreme  thing  that  devolves  upon  me,  upon  you  and 
upon  every  Latter-day  Saint  is  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  public  and  in  private,  and  above  all  to  proclaim 
the  gospel  in  our  lives,  by  being  absolutely  honest  in  the  keeping  of 
the  commandments  of  the  Lord. 

Who  is  Fitted  to  Teach  the  Gospel? 

No  man  can  teach  the  Latter-day  Saints  under  the  inspiration 
of  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God,  or  proclaim  to  the  world,  that  there 
has  come  a  commandment  from  the  Lord  in  our  day  for  men  to  ob- 
serve the  ancient  law  of  tithing  unless  that  man  is  a  conscientious  and 
honest  tithe-payer.  On  the  other  hand,  the  inspiration  of  the  living 
God  attends  those  men  who  proclaim  the  law  of  tithing,  when  they 
are  obeying  it  themselves.  No  man  can,  under  the  inspiration  of  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  warm  ths  hearts  of  the  Saints,  or  benefit  the  people 
of  the  world,  by  proclaiming  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  who  does  not 
obey  it  himself.  But  the  man  who  obeys,  the  Word  of  Wisdom  can 
touch  the  hearts  of  the  Latter-day  Saints  in  proclaiming  that  wonderful 
revelation  that  the  Lord  has  given  to  us  for  our  health  and  our  benefit, 
and  above  all  that  has  been  given  to  us  with  a  promise  attached  thereto. 

And  let  me  say  right  here  that  I  am  convinced  beyond  the  shadow 
of  a  doubt  that  if  the  Latter-day  Saints  had  observed  the  Word  of 
Wisdom,  and  if  the  money  that  has  been  worse  than  wasted  for  tea, 
coffee,  tobacco  and  liquor,  had  been  untilized  for  missionary  service,  we 
would  have  had  the  millions  of  dollars  for  the  work  of  the  Lord  that 
has  been  expended  for  that  which  the  Lord  Almighty  says  is  not 
good  for  man.     I  desire  to  read  that  revelation  from  first  to  last. 

[President  Grant  then  read  section  89  of  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants, 
in  full.] 

Promises  of  God  Conditioned  on  Obedience 
There  is  no  promise  made  to  you  or  to  me  or  to  any  Latter-day 
Saint  that  the  destroying  angel  shall  pass  us  by,  or  that  we  shall  have 
hidden  treasures  of  knowledge,  unless  we  obey  the  Word  of  Wisdom, 
and  the  way  above  all  other  ways  for  men  and  women  to  teach  their 
children  the  necessity  of  obeying  the  Word  of  Wisdom  is  by  obeying 
it  themselves. 


MISSION    OF    THE    SAINTS  71 

"There  is  a  law  irrevocably  decreed  in  heaven  before  the  foundations  of  this  world, 
upon  which  all  blessings  are  predicated — 

"And  when  we  obtain  any  blessing  from  God,  it  is  by  obedience  to  that  law 
*upon  which  it  is  predicated."      (D.   «  C.    130:20,   21.) 

I  believe  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  there  are  hundreds 
and  thousands  of  Latter-day  Saints  who  but  for  the  obeying  of  the 
Word  of  Wisdom  would  not  be  here  today.  When  they  have  been 
attacked  by  serious  diseases  and  have  been  in  a  critical  condition  phys- 
ically, having  obeyed  that  law,  having  fulfilled  an  irrevocable  law  of 
God,  he  was  bound  to  bestow  the  promised  blessings,  and  they  have 
come  to  the  afflicted  ones. 

Parents  Must  Teach  Thek  Children  by  Example 
We  find  recorded  in  section  68: 

"And  again,  inasmuch  zz  parents  have  children  in  Zion,  or  in  any  of  her  stakes 
which  are  organized,  that  teach  them  not  to  understand  the  doctrine  of  repentance, 
faith  in  Christ  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  and  of  baptism  and  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands,  when  eight  years  old,  the  sin  be  upon  the  heads 
of  trfe  parents." 

"For  this  shall  be  a  law  unto  the  inhabitants  of  Zion,  or  in  any  of  her  stakes 
which  are  organized. 

"And  their  children  ;hall  be  baptized  for  the  remission  of  their  sins  when  eight 
years  old,  and  receive  the  laying  on  of  the  hands. 

"And  they  shall  also  teach  their  children  to  pray,  and  to  walk  uprightly  before 
the  Lord." 

And  the  best  way  in  the  world  to  teach  your  children  to  pray  and 
to  walk  uprightly  before  the  Lord  is  to  pray  yourselves,  thus  setting 
an  example  of  prayer,  and  to  walk  uprightly  before  the  Lord  yourselves. 
When  a  man  fails  to  be  honest  as  a  tithe-payer,  when  he  fails  to 
observe  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  the  teaching  of  his  children  to  obey 
those  laws  will  have  but  very  little  effect.  There  is  more  in  example 
than  can  possibly  come  by  teaching.  No  amount  of  knowledge  will 
save  a  man;  no  amount  of  marvelous  revelations  and  visions  pnd 
dreams  will  save  a  man.  But  the  keeping  of  the  commandments  of  the 
Lord  and  the  obeying  of  those  things  which  the  Lord  has  revealed 
to  us  for  our  Salvation,  will  give  us  a  power  and  influence  with  our 
children  for  good,  and  we  will  be  able  to  make  an  impression  upon 
their  hearts  that  will  keep  them  in  the  straight  and  narrow  path  which 
leads  to  life  eternal. 

Josiah  Quincy's  Testimony  of  Joseph  Smith 

When  I  picked  up  the  memorandum  that  is  supplied  to  me  of 
the  songs  that  are  to  be  sung  here  this  morning,  I  found  that  the  first 
song  that  we  were  to  have  today  was,  "We  thank  thee,  O  God,  for  a 
Prophet,"  and  I  remembered  and  immediately  hunted  up  the  quotation, 
a  very  remarkable  tribute  paid  to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  by  Josiah 
Quincy,  at  one  time  the  mayor  of  the  great  city  of  Boston;  and  while 
it  has  been  read  time  and. time  again  in  our  hearing,  and  published  often 


71  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

at  home  and  abroad,  I  thought  I  would  like  to  read  to  you  again  the 
wonderful  testimony  of  Josiah  Quincy,  from  a  book  entitled,  The 
Figures  of- the  Past.     He  says: 

"It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  some  future  text-book  for  the  use  of  gen- 
erations yet  unborn  will  contain  a  question  something  like  this:  'What  historic  Amer- 
ican of  the  nineteenth  century  has  wielded  the  most  powerful  influence  upon  the 
destinies  of  his  countrymen?'  And  it  is  by  no  means  impossible  that  the  answer  to  this 
interrogatory  may  be  thus  written:  'Joseph  Smith,  the  "Mormon"  Prophet.'  And  the 
reply,  absurd  as  it  doubtless  seems  to  most  men  now  living,  may  be  an  obvious  com- 
monplace to  their  descendants.  History  deals  in  surprises  and  paradoxes,  quite  as 
startling  as  this.  The  man  who  established  a  religion  in  this  age  of  free  debate,  who 
was  and  is  today  accepted  by  hundreds  of  thousands  as  a  direct  emissary  from  the 
Most  High — such  a  rare  human  being  is  not  to  be  disposed  of  by  pelting  his  memory 
with  unsavory  epithets.  Fanatic,  imposter,  charlatan,  he  may  have  been;  but  these 
hard  names  furnish  no  solution  to  the  problem  he  presents  to  us.  Fanatics  and  im- 
posters  are  living  and  dying  every  day,  and  their  memory  is  buried  with  them;  but 
the  wonderful  influence  which  this  founder  of  a  religion  exerted  and  still  exerts  throws 
him  into  a  relief  before  us,  not  as  a  rogue  to  be  incriminated,  but  as  a  phenomenon 
to  be  explained.  The  most  vital  questions  Americans  are  asking  each  other  today  have 
to  do  with  thi:  man  and  what  he  has  left  us.  *  *  *  A  generation  other  than 
mine  must  deal  with  these  questions.  Burning  questions  they  are,  which  must  give 
a  prominent  place  in  the  history  of  the  country  to  that  sturdy  self-asserter  whom  I 
visited  at  Nauvoo.  Joseph  Smith,  claiming  to  be  an  inspired  teacher,  faced  adversity 
such  as  few  men  have  been  called  to  meet,  enjoyed  a  brief  season  of  prosperity  such 
as  few  men  have  ever  attained,  and,  finally,  forty-three  days  after  I  saw  him,  went 
cheerfully  to  a  martyr's  death.  When  he  surrendered  his  person  to  Governor  Ford,  in 
order  to  prevent  the  shedding  of  blood,  the  prophet  had  a  presentiment  of  what  was 
before  him,  'I  am  going  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,'  he  is  reported  to  have  said,  'but 
I  am  as  calm  as  a  Summer's  morning.  I  have  a  conscience  void  of  offense  and  shall 
die  innocent.'  " 

And  a  further  quotation:      "And  it  shall  yet  be  said  that  I  was 
murdered  in  cold  blood,"  which  is  not  in  Josiah  Quincy's  statement. 

"I  have  no  theory  to  advance  respecting  this  extraordinary  man.  I  shall  simply 
give  the  facts  of  my  intercourse  with  him. 

"A  fine  looking  man  is  what  the  passer-by  would  instinctively  have  murmured 
upon  meeting  the  remarkable  individual  who  had  fashioned  the  mould  which  was  to 
shape  the  feelings  of  so  many  thousands  of  his  fellow  mortals.  But  Smith  was  more 
than  this,  and  one  could  not  resLt  the  impression  that  capacity  and  resource  were  nat- 
ural to  his  stalwart  person.  I  have  already  mentioned  the  resemblance  he  bore  to 
Elisha  R.  Potter  of  Rhode  Island,  whom  I  met  in  Washington  in  182  6.  The  likeness 
was  not  such  as  would  be  recognized  in  a  picture  but  rather  one  that  would  be  felt  in 
a  grave  emergency. 

"Of  all  men  I  have  met  these  two  teemed  best  endowed  with  that  kindly  faculty 
which  directs,  as  by  intrinsic  right,  the  feeble  or  confused  souls  who  are  looking  for 
guidance. 

"We  then  went  on  to  talk  of  politics.  Smith  recognized  the  curse  and  iniquity 
of  slavery,  though  he  opposed  the  methods  of  the  abolitionists.  His  plan  waj  for  the 
nation  to  pay  for  the  slaves  from  the  sale  of  the  public  lands.  'Congress'  he  said, 
'should  be  compelled  to  take  this  course,  by  petitions  from  all  parts  of  the  country; 
but  the  petitioners  must  disclaim  all  alliance  not  recognized  by  the  Constitution  and 
which  foment  insurrection.'  It  may  be  worth  while  to  remark  that  Smith's  plan  was 
publicly  advocated  eleven  years  later  by  one  who  mixed  so  much  practical  shrewdness 
with  his  lofty  philosophy.  In  1855,  when  men's  minds  had  been  moved  to  their  depths 
on  the  question  of  slavery,  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  declared  that  it  should  be  met  in  ac- 
cordance 'with  the  interest  of  the  south  and  with  the  settled  conscience  of  the  north.  It 
is  not   really  a  great  task,   a   great   fight   for  this  country   to  accomplish,    to  buy   that 


MISSION    OF    THE    SAINTS  73 

property  of  the  planter,  as  the  British  nation  bought  the  West  Indian  slaves.'  He 
further  says  that  the  United  States  will  be  brought  to  give  every  inch  of  their  public 
lands  for  a  purpose  like  this.  We  who  can  look  back  upon  the  terrible  cost  of  the 
fratricidal  war  which  put  an  end  to  slavery,  now  say  that  such  a  solution  of  the  diffi- 
culty would  have  been  worthy  a  Christian  statesman.  But  if  the  retired  scholar  was 
in  advance  of  his  time  when  he  advocated  this  disposition  of  the  public  property  in 
1855,  what  shall  I  say  of  the  political  and  religious  leader  who  had  committed  him- 
self, in  print  as  well  as  in  conversation,  to  the  same  course  in  1844?  If  the  atmos- 
phere of  men's  opinions  were  stirred  by  such  a  proposition  when  war  clouds  were  dis- 
cernible in  the  sky,  was  it  not  a  statesmanlike  word  eleven  years  earlier  when  the 
heavens  looked  tranquil  and  beneficent?" 

It  was  a  statesmanlike  and  an  inspired  proposition,  from  a  man 
who  was  in  very  deed  a  prophet  of  the  true  and  living  God. 

"General  Smith  proceeded  to  unfold  still  further  his  views  upon  politics.  He 
denounced  the  Missouri  Compromise  as  an  unjustifiable  concession  for  the  benefit  of 
slavery.  It  was  Henry  Clay's  bid  for  the  presidency.  Dr.  Goforth  might  have 
spared  himself  the  trouble  of  coming  to  Nauvoo  to  electioneer  for  a  duelist  who 
would  fire  at  John  Randolph,  but  was  not  brave  enough  to  protect  the  Saints  in  their 
rights  as  American  citizens.  Clay  told  his  (Smith's)  people  to  go  to  the  wilds  of 
Oregon  and  set  up  a  government  of  their  own.  Oh,  yes,  the  Saints  might  go  into 
the  wilderness  and  obtain  the  justice  of  the  Indians,  which  imbecile,  time-serving 
politicians  would  not  give  them  in  the  land  of  freedom  and  equality.  The  prophet 
then  talked  of  the  details  of  government.  He  thought  the  number  of  members 
admitted  to  the  lower  house  of  the  national  legislature  should  be  reduced.  A  crowd 
only  darkened  counsel  and  impeded  business.  A  member  for  every  half  million  of 
population  would  be  ample.  The  powers  of  the  president  should  be  increased.  He 
should  have  authority  to  put  down  rebellion  in  a  state,  without  waiting  for  the  request 
of  any  governor;  for  it  might  happen  that  the  governor  himself  would  be  the  leader 
of  the  rebels.  It  is  needless  to  remark  how  later  events  showed  the  executive  weakness 
that  Smith  pointed  out — a  weakness  which  cost  thousands  of  valuable  lives  and  millions 
of   treasure.      *      *      * 

"Born  in  the  lowest  ranks  of  poverty,  without  book  learning  and  with  the 
homeliest  of  all  human  names,  he  had  made  himself  at  the  age  of  39  a  power  upon 
the  earth.  Of  the  multitudinous  family  of  Smiths,  none  had  so  won  human  hearts 
and  shaped  human  lives  as  this  Joseph.  His  influence,  whether  for  good  or  evil, 
is  potent  today,  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 

"I  have  endeavored  to  give  the  details  of  my  visit  to  the  'Mormon'  prophet  with 
ab.olute  accuracy.  If  the  reader  does  not  know  just  what  to  make  of  Joseph  Smith, 
I  cannot  help  him  out  of  the  difficulty.      I,  myself  stand  helpless  before  the  puzzle." 

The  Migration  West — Joseph  Smith's  Prophecy 

The  Latter-day  Saints  do  not  stand  helpless  before  the  puzzle. 
They  rejoice  in  the  wonderful  inspiration  of  the  man  who  prophesied 
that  "the  Latter-day  Saints  would  continue  to  suffer  much  affliction 
and  many  would  be  put  to  death  by  their  persecutors,  and  others 
would  lose  their  lives  in  consequence  of  exposure  or  disease,  but  some 
would  live  to  go  and  make  settlements,  build  cities,  and  see  the  Saints 
become  a  mighty  people  in  the  midst  of  the  Rocky  Mountains." 

What  kind  of  a  place  was  the  Rocky  Mountains  when  this  re- 
markable prophecy  was  uttered?  One  of  the  greatest  American  states- 
men, Daniel  Webster,  is  reported  to  have  said  regarding  it: 

"What  do  we  want  with  this  vast,  worthless  area?  This  region  of  savages  and 
wild  beasts,  of  deserts,  of  shifting  sands  and  whirlwinds  of  dust,  of  cactus  and  prairie 
dogs?      To  what  use  could  we   ever  hope  to  put   these   great  deserts  or  those  endless 


74  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

mountain  ranges,  impenetrable  and  covered  to  their  very  base  with  eternal  snow? 
What  can  we  ever  hope  to  do  with  the  western  coast  of  three  thousand  miles,  rock- 
bound,  cleerless,  uninviting  and  not  a  harbor  on  it.  Mr.  President,  I  will  never 
vote  one  cent  from  the  public  treasury  to  place  the  pacific  coast  one  inch  nearer 
Boston   than  it  now  is." 

Government  Placed  Stamp  of  Approval  on  the  Prophet's  Utterance 

I  rejoice  in  an  individual  testimony  of  the  truth  of  the  statements 
of  Joseph  Smith,  that  his  name  should  be  had  for  good  and  evil  in  all 
parts  of  the  world;  that  the  time  would  come  when  not  only  a  city, 
a  county  and  a  state  should  be  arrayed  against  the  handful  of  people 
called  "Mormons,"  but  the  day  would  come  wh:n  the  whole  United 
States  of  America  should  be  arrayed  against  them.  And  the  army  of  the 
United  States  was  sent  against  them,  and  the  government  of  the  United 
States  did  confiscate  all  of  the  property  belonging  to  the  Church.  Day 
after  day  and  month  after  month  during  the  litigation  for  the  return 
of  the  Church  property  I  picked  up  the  paper  and  read,  "T-he  United 
States1  of  America  versus  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints."  And  I  have  laid  the  paper  down  and  said,  "Thank  the  Lord 
that  the  United  States  have  placed  the  stamp  of  divinity  upon  the 
utterances  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith." 

The  Great  Obligation  of  the  Saints  to  Declare  the  Restoration 

Our  boys  and  girls  go  out  into  the  world  with  a  love  of  the 
gospel,  young,  inexperienced  men  and  women,  and  God  gives  to  them 
the  witness  of  the  Spirit  and  an  individual  testimony  so  that  they  can 
stand  up  and  say  before  all  the  world,  "I  know  that  God  lives,  I  know 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  I  know  that  Joseph  Smith  is  a  prophet  of  the 
true  and  living  God,  and  that  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
plan  of  life  and  salvation,  has  been  restored  to  the  earth  through  his 
instrumentality."  The  one  and  great  thing  that  devolves  upon  me, 
upon  you,  and  upon  all  Latter-day  Saints  is  that  this  proclamation 
shall  be  sent  to  all  the  world,  and  I  rejoice  in  knowing  that  it  has  never 
been  carried  with  more  force  and  by  a  greater  number  of  faithful,  dili- 
gent workers  than  at  the  present  time. 

May  God  bless  each  and  every  one  of  us  who  has  a  testimony  and 
a  knowledge  that  he  lives  and  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  and  that  Joseph 
Smith  was  a  prophet  of  the  true  and  living  God,  and  so  to  order  our 
lives  that  all  men  seeing  our  diligence,  our  humility,  our  charity,  our 
love  of  our  fellows,  may  be  led  to  investigate  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ,  is  my  prayer,  and  I  ask  it  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  our 
Redeemer.      Amen. 


Concerning  Plural  Marriages 

At  the  close  (of  his  opening  address,  at  the  general  conference, 
October  3,  1926,  President  Heber  J.  Grant  read  the  following 
statement: 


CONCERNING  PLURAL  MARRIAGES  75 

Notwithstanding  frequent  verbal  and  printed  instructions  issued  by 
President  Joseph  F.  Smith  and  counselors  to  the  effect  that  the  solemnization 
of  plural  marriages  was  prohibited  by  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints,  and  these  instructions  having  been  reiterated  time  and  time  again  by 
myself  as  President,  cases  occasionally  arise  where  certain  individuals  are 
teaching  that  it  is  legitimate  to  enter  into  plural  marriage,  and  that  such 
marriages  can  be  performed  by  certain  members  of  the  Church  claiming  to 
have  authority  to  do  so. 

The  revelations  of  the  Lord  inform  us  most  plainly  that  there  is  but 
one  man  on  the  earth  at  a  time  who  holds  the  keys  of  this  sealing  power; 
namely,  the  President  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints. 
As  President  of  the  Church,  I  once  again  solemnly  declare  that  no  man  living 
has  the  authority  to  solemnize  a  plural  marriage;  and  I  hereby  announce  that 
it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  every  Latter-day  Saint,  male  and  female,  who  knows 
of  any  such  pretended  marriage  being  performed,  to  inform  the  proper  officers 
of  the  Church,  in  order  that  the  Church's  honor  may  be  maintained  and  that 
such  individuals  may  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of 
the  Church  and  excommunicated  therefrom. 


The  Ninety-Seventh  Semi-Annual  Conference 

President  Heber  J.  Grant's  opening  address  was  an  appeal  to  in- 
dividual repentance,  and  to  an  individual  desire  to  preach  the  gospel 
of  repentance.  He  referred  to  the  29th  chapter  of  the  book  of  Alma, 
reading  it  and  the  revelation  on  the  Word  of  Wisdom  as  themes  for 
his  address.  The  Church  today  is  doing  more  missionary  work  than  at 
any  time  in  its  history.  He  was  especially  complimentary  to  those  who 
had  filled  and  are  filling  the  call  for  mature  missionaries  for  short 
missions  at  the  last  October  conference,  and  rejoiced  in  the  splendid 
experiences  of  the  missionaries  who  responded  to  this  call.  One  great 
duty  devolving  upon  the  members  and  the  leaders  of  the  Church  is  to 
proclaim  the  gospel,  and  especially  by  their  actions  in  life.  No  one 
can  advocate  the  law  of  tithing  or  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  or  any  other 
principle  of  the  gospel,  unless  he  is  an  honest  tithe-payer,  unless  he 
obeys  the  Word  of  Wisdom,  and  unless  he  lives  jn  conformity  with 
the  doctrines  and  principles  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  A  number 
of  promises  have  been  made  by  the  Lord  as  a  sure  reward  for  those 
who  live  in  harmony  with  the  requirements  made  of  his  people.  We 
obtain  no  blessing  except  through  obedience  to  the  law  upon  which  the 
blessing  is  predicated. 

During  all  the  meetings  of  Sunday  the  seats  in  the  Tabernacle 
were  filled  to  capacity,  and  also  the  standing  room.  Besides,  there 
were  large  overflow  meetings  in  the  Assembly  Hall  at  10  and  2  o'clock. 
The  radio  was  used,  and  it  was  stated  that  at  least  a  hundred  thousand 
people  would  hear  'the  services  that  were  given  in  the  Tabernacle 
during  the  first  day. 

President  Anthony  W.  Ivins,  in  an  inspirational  sermon,  dis- 
cussed the  attitude  of  the  Christian  world  toward  "Mormonism,"  and 
the  slanders  resorted  to  by  the  clergy  to  make  believe  there  is  a  retro- 
grade movement  in  this  Church.  He  called  attention  to  the  vast  congre- 
gation, and  other  thousands  who  had  assembled,  and  were  listening  in, 


76  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

to  obtain  the  inspiration  of  the  Lord  at  this  conference,  as  clearly  dis- 
proving these  charges.  He  named  two  important  world  events;  namely, 
the  turmoil  in  Mexico,  from  which  he  believes  good  will  come  to 
the  people  of  the  land;  and  the  British-Israel  World  federation,  which 
recalls  ideas  that  have  been  preached  by  the  Latter-day  Saints  for 
nearly  a  hundred  years. 

Concerning  the  charge  of  certain  ministers  as  to  what  they  call 
a  retrograde  movement  in  this  Church,  it  might  be  interesting  to  state 
here  that  the  Priesthood  meeting  held  on  Monday  evening,  October 
4,  showed  an  increase  of  1,548  persons  over  the  largest  Priesthood 
meeting  ever  held  in  the  Church  before.  There  were  4,818  in  attend- 
ance, the  largest  general  Priesthood  meeting  ever  held  in  the  Church. 

President  Charles  W.  Nibley  spoke  in  great  earnestness  of  freedom 
and  liberty,  paying  tribute  to  the  founders  of  this  nation  and  to  the 
reformers  of  the  world  for  the  pioneering  they  had  done  in  preparing 
the  way  for  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  in  these  latter  days.  With- 
out their  labors,  and  the  work  of  the  patriots  of  this  country,  the 
Church  could  scarcely  have  been  established  in  our  day. 

The  speakers  following  in  the  various  sessions,  until  Tuesday 
evening,  contributed  practical  and  inspiring  discourses,  to  the  delight 
and  inspiration  of  the  large  audiences  at  all  the  meetings. 

The  Tabernacle  Choir  did  itself  proud,  especially  in  the  rendition 
of  "Worthy  is  the  Lamb,"  on  Sunday  afternoon,  with  Laurinda  P. 
Brewerton  as  soloist.  Their  singing  was  greatly  commended  by  many 
who  were  present. 

Altogether  the  conference  was  a  notable  one,  and  will  contribute 
largely  to  the  enthusiasm  of  the  workers1  in  the  Church,  in  their  labors 
for  the  furtherance  of  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

The  auxiliary  meetings  on  Sunday  morning  and  evening,  and  at 
other  times  during  the  conference,  were  unusually  inspiring  and 
interesting. 


Nathan  Hale,  Martyr 


"On  Sept.  22,  1776,  a  21 -year-old  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  Army 
waited  to  be  hanged  as  a  spy  by  the  .British.  With  the  rope  around  his  neck, 
he  said  quietly:  'I  only  regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  give  for  my 
country.'     The  life  was  that  of  Nathan  Hale,  martyr,  hero. 

"Last  week  in  his  birth-place,  in  South  Coventry,  Conn.,  citizens  as- 
sembled to  honor  the  150th  anniversary  of  his  death.  A  message  from  Pres- 
ident Coolidge  was  read: 

'  'There  is  no  finer  record  of  high  character  and  patriotic  devotion,  of 
unselfish  service  and  of  a  spirit  unquenched  and  majestic  in  death  than  that 
of  Nathan  Hale.*  *  *  The  hero's  story  should  be  taught  to  every  child 
in  our  schools.*      *      *      '  " — Time,  a  weekly  news  magazine,  Oct.  4,  1926. 


(Priesthood  Quorums 


(All  of  the  matters  pertaining  to  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  presented  under  this 
heading  are  prepared  under  the  direction  of  the  Presiding  Bishopric) 

Instructions  to  Aaronic  Priesthood  Quorums 
by  Bishoprics 

Under  the  plan  now  in  operation  for  the  supervision  of  the  Aaronic 
Presthood  quorums,  the  members  of  the  bishopric  are  expected  to  have  charge 
of  the  various  grades  of  the  Priesthood.  They  are  to  act  in  an  advisory 
capacity  with  the  presidency  of  the  quorum  and  to  train  them  in  the 
business  of  directing  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting. 

Of  course,  in  the  crse  of  the  priests'  quorum,  the  bishop  has  im- 
mediate direction  as  the  president  of  that  quorum.  But  even  in  that  quorum 
he  may  call  assistants  to  conduct  the  exercises,  so  as  to  furnish  development 
for  the  young  men  in  the  matter  of  presidency. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  remind  all  those  connected  with 
this  work  that  an  order  of  business  for  each  quorum  should  be  outlined, 
by  those  in  charge,  in  cooperation  with  the  quorum  presidency,  and  then 
be  regularly  carried  out  in  the  meeting.  A  suggested  order  of  business  has 
already  been  submitted  by  this  office  for  the  consideration  of  all  ward 
officers.  Such  an  arrangement  will  promote  system  and  dispatch  in  the 
business  of   the  meeting. 

The  plan  above  mentioned  for  the  Aaronic  Priesthood  provides  for  a 
class  supervisor  in  each  quorum,  who  shall  be  thoroughly  prepared  to  con- 
duct the  class  work  after  the  preliminary  business  of  the  class  or  quorum 
is  put  through.  In  addition  to  this  work  it  would  appear  from  our  per- 
sonal experience  with  deacons'  quorums  that  in  these  quorums  particularly 
it  might  be  advisable  for  the  supervisors  to.  call  the  roll  and  make  the  proper 
entries,  since  most  deacons  are  hard  y  experienced  enough  to  keep  a  roll 
book  accurately  and  neatly. 

The  particular  phase  of  the  work,  however,  which  we  desire  to  stress 
here  is  that  the  member  of  the  bishopric  in  charge  of  the  quorum  should 
occupy  from  two  to  five  minutes  time  in  each  meeting,  after  the  preliminary 
matters  have  been  carried  out,  and  before  the  lesson  work,  in  a  brief  dis- 
cussion of  some  topic  that  has  to  do  with  the  duties,  qualifications  or 
habits  of  the  members. 

For  instance,  it  is  important  to  discuss  with  the  boys  from  time  to 
time  such  topics  as  the  names,  quorums  and  duties  of  the  General  Authorities; 
stake  and  ward  organization  officers;  observance  of  tithing;  avoiding  pro- 
fanity; how  to  do  good  ward  teaching;  developing  moral  stamina;  the  bad 
effects  of  the  use  of  tobacco;  developing  will  power;  personal  cleanliness; 
proper  administration  of  the  Sacrrment;  having  purpose  in  life;  learning 
a  trade  or  profession,  and  many  other  details  that  are  very  timely  and  vital 
in  the  training  of  the  boy. 

Such  topics  treated  briefly,  but  in  some  detail  and  in  such  a  manner  as 
will  appeal  most  to  the  boys,  will  prove  very  interesting  and  influential 
in  their  growth  and  progress.  Think  what  it  will  mean  to  have  such  prac- 
tical and  stimulating  matters  discussed  from  thirty-five  to  fifty  times  each 
year  in  addition  to  the  splendid  lessons  provided! 

Richards  Ward  Lesser  Priesthood  Rally- 
Bishop    Clarence    L.    Gardiner    of    the    Ricrnrds    ward.    Granite    stake, 
reports   a    rally   held   Sunday   morning,    October    10,    at    the    regular   Lesser 
Priesthood    meeting-    at    which    there    were    present    104    boys    holding    th< 


78 


IMPROVEMENT   ERA 


Aaronic  Priesthood,  1 1  instructors  and  9  visitors,  including  the  bishopric 
and  representatives  of  the  stake  Aaronic  Priesthood  committee.  The  pur- 
pose of  this  meeting  was  to  encourage  the  boys  to  renewed  activity  in 
their  priesthood  quorums  at  the  beginning  of  the  Fall  and  Winter  seasons. 
The  rally  proved  to  be  a  very  enthusiastic  meeting. 

At  this  meeting,  twenty-three  boys  were  approved  for  advancement  in 
the  priesthood  quorums.  These  boys  had  been  previously  prepared  for 
ordination  by  the  supervisors,  who  had  instructed  them  in  the  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  these  higher  callings,  and  had  impressed  upon  them  the 
importance  of  keeping  free  from  the  use-  of  tobacco,  and  of  being  physically 
and  morally  clean.  Letters  had  also  been  written  to  the  parents  requesting 
their  assistance  in  encouraging  the  boys  in  their  duties.  A  meeting  had  been 
held  prior  to  this  meeting,  at  which  the  boys  to  be  advanced  were  present. 
They  were  encouraged  by  the  Bishopric  and  others  in  various  phases  of 
their  work. 

This  ward  has  arranged  that  whenever  any  special  affairs  are  given 
in  connection  with  the  Aaronic  priesthood  work  the  stake  committee  are 
invited  to  attend  and  be  shown  every  consideration. 

Changes  Reported  by  the  Presiding  Bishopric 

Jewett  ward.   Young  stake,   Joseph   E.   Wheeler   ha:   been   appointed   bishop. 

The  Lee's  Ferry  branch,  Kanab  stake,  which  was  a  dependent  branch,  has  been 
disorganized. 

The  address  of  the  Northcentral  States  mission  has  been  changed  to  3  044 
Eliott  Avenue,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota. 


The  Oneida  stake  Fathers  and  Sons'  Outing  was  held  this  year  at 
Willow  Flat  up  Cub  River  canyon.  The  picture  shows  Scout  Master  Christen 
Hansen,  Troop  45,  of  Mink  Creek,  and  Deputy  Commissioner  George  Glade, 
entertaining  the  fathers  and  sons  with  an  Indian  dance  during  the  outing. 
We  are  indebted  to  Victor  Lindblad,  Scout  Executive  of  the  Cache  Valley 
Council  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  for  the  picture  and  the  information.  By  the 
crowd  shown  in  the  picture,  it  is  evident  that  a  good  time  was  enjoyed  both 
by  the  youngsters  and  their  fathers. 


CzMutuat  Work 


Introductions  to  the  M.   I.  A.  Slogan   1926-27 

"We  stand  for  a  testimony  of  the  divine  mission  of  Joseph  Smith'' 
This   year's   slogan   should   be  presented   at   our   regular   weekly   meet- 
ings,   and    the    Standards    Committee    is    suggesting    material    to   be    used    as 
introductory  settings  for  the  slogan.      The  introduction   and   scripture  pas- 
sages for  October  treated  on  how   to   obtain  a  testimony. 

The  restoration  of  the  gospel  is  a  very  important  event,  and  the  an- 
nouncement of  that  restoration  should  be  considered  during  November.  The 
committee  suggests  the  following  quotations  to  be  read  in  connection  with,  the 
introduction  of  the  slogan  in  the  various  organizations  for  the  five  weeks 
of  November: 

The  Announcement  of  the  Restoration  of  the  Gospel 

1.  Doctrine  and  Covenants  1:17,  18:  "Wherefore,  I  the  Lord,  know- 
ing the  calamity  which  should  come  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
called  upon  my  servant  Joseph  Smith,  Jun.,  and  spake  unto  him  from 
heaven,   and   gave  him   commandments; 

"And  also  gave  commandments  to  others,  that  they  should  proclaim 
these  things  unto  the  world;  and  all  this  that  it  might  be  fulfilled,  which 
was  written  by  the  prophets." 

2.  Doctrine  and  Covenants  4:1,  2:  "Now  behold,  a  marvelous  work 
is  about  to  come  forth  among  the  children  of  men.  Therefore,  O  ye  that 
embark  in  the  service  of  God,  see  that  ye  serve  him  with  all  your  heart, 
might,  mind  and  strength,  that  ye  may  stand  blameless  before  God  at  the 
last  day." 

3.  II  Nephi  3:15,  16:  "And  his  name  shall  be  called  after  me; 
and  it  shall  be  after  the  name  of  his  father.  And  he  shall  be  'like  unto 
me;  for  the  thing,  which  the  Lord  shall  bring  forth  by  his  hand,  by  the 
power  of  the  Lord  shall  bring  my  people  unto  salvation.  "Yea,  thus  proph- 
esied Joseph:  I  am  sure  of  this  thing,  even  as  I  am  sure  of  the  promise 
of  Moses;  for  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  me,  I  will  preserve  thy  seed  forever." 

4.  Revelation  14:6:  "And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of 
heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on 
the  earth,   and   to  every  nation,   and   kindred,   and   tongue,   and  people." 

5.  Doctrine  and  Covenants  1:1,  2;  "Hearken,  O  ye  people  of  my 
Church,  saith  the  voice  of  him  who  dwells  on  high,  and  whose  eyes  are  upon 
all  men;  yea,  verily  I  say:  Hearken,  ye  people  from  afar;  and  ye  that  are 
upon  the  islands  of  the  sea,  listen  together.  For  verily  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
is  unto  all  men,  and  there  is  none  to  escape;  and  there  is  no  eye  that  shall 
not  see,  neither  ear  that  shall  not  hear,  neither  heart  that  shall  not  be 
penetrated." 

Eagle  Scouts  at  Granddaddy  Lakes 

The  first  "Eagles'  Flight"  to  be  conducted  as  a  S'ate  afL.ir  com- 
menced on  August  16,  1926,  when  Eagle  Scouts  from  various  parts  of 
Utah  assembled  at  Stewart's  ranch  on  the  upper  Provo  river,  on  their 
way  to  the  Granddaddy  lakes  country.  Logan,  Ogden  Gateway,  Salt  Lake 
and  Timpanogos  councils  were  represented.  The  road  led  up  Wolf  Creek 
canyon  toward  the  divide;  thence,  down  to  the  North  Fork  of  the  Duchesne 
river  and   up   a   one-way   road    to    Savage's   ranch,    where   they   camped   fci 


80 


IMPROVEMENT    ERA 


the  night.  After  the  routine  camp  duties  were  attended  to,  the  scouts  held 
their  council  fire,  and  inside  the  ring  of  light  were  eighteen  faces,  lighted 
also  with  joy.  Songs  and  stories  formed  the  evening's  program,  each 
council  doing  its  part.  Before  sunrise  the  following  morning,  these  eighteen 
husky  Eagle  Scouts  wended  their  way  up  through  the  aspens,  along  the 
stream,  through  the  evergreens,  up  the  trail  to  the  divide.  Though  they 
had  hiked  six  miles  uphill,  there  was  so  much  to  see  that  the  distance  seemed 


IN   NATURE'S   SOLITUDES 

really  short;  and  just  before  noon  they  looked  down  on  the  basin  heavy 
with  timber  and  spotted  with  hundreds  of  lakes.  Luncheon  was  eaten  at 
Grandaddy  lake,  the  largest  in  the  basin;  and  then  the  pack  train  took  the 
lead  toward  Pine  Island  lake,  which  was  their  destination,  and  which  they 
reached  late  that  afternoon.  After  making  camp,  they  tried  their  skill 
and  luck  at  fishing,    two   of  the   scouts   making   use   of   a   raft   they   found 


MUTUAL     WORK  8 1 

there,  and  some  swelled  with  pride  at  their  bringing  in  a  few  fine  trout.  After 
supper,  preparations  were  made  for  another  campfire.  The  following  days 
were  filled  with  continuous  excitement  and  activity — fishing,  swimming, 
exploring,  photographing,  rafting,  playing  ball  and  horseshoes,  with  hikes 
to  Four  Lakes  Basin  and  Wall  Lake,  and  ending  each  evening  with  a  camp- 
fire program  long  to  be  remembered.  Religious  services  were  held  on  Sun- 
day, August  22,  and  the  regular  scout  rites  observed.  Early  Monday  morn- 
ing found  them  ready  to  commence  their  return  trip.  They  stopped  again 
at  Savage's  ranch,  where  their  equipment  was  packed  on  the  three  cars:, 
and  they  were  soon  speeding  rapidly  down  the  canyon  road  to  Stewart's 
ranch,  and  then  on  toward  home. — D.  Alton  Partridge,  Eagle  Scout  Scribe, 
Provo. 

What  To  Do  In  November 

Give  attention  to  class  leaders.  Proper  class  leadership  means  a  suc- 
cessful year  for  M.  I.  A.  Efficiency  reports  should  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
General   Secretary   by   November    10. 

Check  on  slogan  and  reading  course.  By  this  time  the  reading  course 
should  be  at  its  height.     See  Slogan  introductions  in  this  number. 

Music- — This  is  music  month  in  our  recreation  program.  Choose  from 
the  following  events.  1.  Concert.  2.  An  evening  with  composers.  3. 
Musical  trip  around  the  world.      4.  Opera.      5.  Music  Drama. 

It  will  be  recalled  that  it  was  stated  at  our  superintendents'  luncheon, 
held  at  the  June  conference,  that  the  campaign  for  the  Improvement  Era 
was  to  be  put  over  during  two  weeks  in  October.  All  the  superintendents 
agreed  that  it  could  be  done.  A  canvass  was  to  be  made  in  each  ward  of 
every  family,  which  would  then  entitle  the  ward  to  ten  in  the  Efficiency 
Repor:.  The  stake  which  had  all  its  wards  do  the  s  me  wi  1  also  mark  ten. 
Where  a  complete  canvass  has  not  taken  place,  a  final  effort  should  be  made 
to  have  it  done  now. 

A  very  important  item  is  to  see  that  manuals  for  all  the  classes  are1 
provided;  and  here  let  us  emphasize  the  need  of  having  manuals  in  the  Scout 
class  as  well  as  in  the  Advanced  Junior  class,  and  of  course  in  the  Senior 
and  Advanced  Senior  classes.  Every  class  member  should  be  encouraged  to 
read  and  study  them.  This  year  we  have  an  unusually  excellent  array  of 
manuals,  five  in  number,  for  the  study  of  the  classes  of  the  M.  I.  A.  They 
are  not  only  valuable  for  the  members  of  the  classes,  but  for  all  members  of 
the  Church,  and  are  of  a  religious  character  throughout,  and  at  the  same  time 
written  in  such  a  way  that  they  interest  everybody  who  may  read. 

Missionary  Work 

At  the  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  meeting  of  the  general  conference,  held  Sunday 
morning  at  8  o'clock,  October  3,  1926,  the  general  theme  was  missionary 
work,  and  the  training  of  young  men  in  spiritual  affairs. 

Four  superintendents,  chosen  from  various  stakes  of  the  Church,  were 
first  heard.  They  were,  Don  Carlos  Wood,  of  the  Salt  Lake  stake;  W.  L. 
Van  Orden,  Benson  stake;  Clifford  E.  Young,  Alpine  stake;  and  Elias  L. 
Day,  Grant  stake.  They  spoke  on  "The  Stake  Superintendent,  His  Obliga- 
tions and  Plans  for  the  Year's  Work."  Each  gave  a  most  inspiring  talk, 
outlining  the  course  of  procedure  in  his  stake  for  the  year  to  come  on 
management,  the  fund,  Era,  recreation,  class  studies,  and  social  events.  Their 
remarks  were  an  inspiration  to  the  whole  audience  of  superintendents  and 
representatives,  including  stake  presidents  and  bishops  from  the  various  stakes 
and  wards  of  Zion. 

Speeches  followed  by  Superintendents  George  Albert  Smith,  Richard 
R.  Lyman  and  Melvin  J.  Ballard;  also  by  Elder  Rey  L.  Pratt,  of  the  First 


82  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Council    of    Seventy,    who    recently    returned    from    the    South    American 
mission. 

Elder  Ballard  referred  especially  to  the  three  great  responsibilities  resting 
upon  the  Church;  namely,  preaching  the  gospel  to  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth;  caring  for  and  training  young  and  old  of  the  Church,  who  have' 
already  accepted  the  gospel,  and  thus  establishing  and  building  the  Church 
here  at  home;  and,  third,  opening  the  doors  of  salvation  to  the  dead.  He 
dwelt  especially  upon  missionary  work,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  at  home 
and  abroad,  and  the  responsibility  resting  upon  the  leaders  of  the  Church  and 
its  organizations  in  warning  the  youth  of  the  world  of  the  restoration  of 
the  gospel  through  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  He  asked  all  the  officers 
to  read  the  133rd  section  of  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  requiring  us  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  that  Zion  and  Jerusalem 
might  be  established,  from  which  centers  the  voice  of  the  Lord  should  issue. 
He  specifically  pointed  out  the  responsibility  of  the  Mutual  Improvement  As- 
sociation leaders  of  their  duty  to  warn  their  membership  of  these  things  and 
of  the  calamities  to  come  to  the  disobedient,  and  to  be  instructed  from  on 
high  that  they  might  walk  in  the  true  light,  and  avoid  being  delivered  over 
.to  darkness.  He  remarked  that  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  are  ever  sound 
and  can  not  be  attacked,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Church  and  of  our  organization  to  give  information  concerning  these  doc- 
trines, so  that  !the  young  men  may  be  well  informed  on  the  gospel,  and 
in  addition  be  clean  in  their  hearts  and  live  with  individual  testimonies  of 
the  truth.  The  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  program  is  a  rescue  program.  Let  us 
make  this  clear  to  all  and  be  alert  with  warning  voice. 

Elder  Richard  R.  Lyman  complimented  the  workers  and  urged  continued 
progression  in  the  work. 

Elder  Rey  L.  Pratt  emphasized  the  duty  and  value  of  leadership,  saying 
that  nothing  is  more  needed  in  the  Church  today.  We  must  recognize  that 
young  people  are  being  influenced  on  every  side  by  that  which  tends  to 
destroy  their  faith  in  God.  This  should  be  counteracted  by  the  very  best 
efforts  of  our  leadership  and  teaching. 

Superintendent  George  Albert  Smith  spoke  of  the  compliments  that 
eminent  men  have  given  the  M.  I.  A.  leadership,  especially  in  the  field  of 
recreation.  He  urged  the  workers  not  to  take  too  much  credit  to  themselves. 
He  called  attention  to  the  rich  field  there  is  among  the  young  men  and 
women  of  the  Church  for  delightful  work  by  those  who  take  an  interest  in 
it,  and  urged  that  the  message  of  the  gospel  be  carried  to  the  hearts  of  the 
boys  and  girls  at  home  as  well  as  to  those  out  in  the  world. 

The  contest  music  for  this  year,  "Prayer  Perfect,"  was  sung  by  a 
quartette  of  M  Men,  under  direction  of  Mrs.  Mary  Salt  of  Liberty  stake. 

Superintendent  I.   E.   Riddle,   of  Parowan,   pronounced   the  benediction. 

M  Men  Notice 

To  encourage  the  reading  of  the  Book  of  Mormon,  the  Improvement 
Era  offers  a  two  years'  subscription  for  the  best  written  statement  and  ap- 
plication of  the  story  connected  with  the  "Waters  of  Sebus."  The  s:ory 
should  give  the  setting,  or  environment,  and  draw  a  lesson  from  it  all,  applic- 
able to  present-day  conditions.  The  story  should  not  be  more  than  five 
hundred  words  in  length. 

Writings  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  editors  of  the  Era  by  the  20th 
of  December.  One  year's  subscription  to  the  Era  will  be  given  also  to 
each  of  the  writers  of  the  second  and  third  best  s'ories.  Each  paper  submitted 
must  give  the  name  and  address  of  the  author,  and  the  ward  M  Men  class 
of  which  he  is  a  member. 


MUTUAL     WORK 


S3 


'The  Picture  with  a  Story" 


The  judges  chosen  to  select  the  winners  from  the  twenty-eight  poems 
received  in  this  contest,  have  decided  the  merits  of  the  poems  as  follows: 

First — "Fond  Recollections,"  by  Josephine  Mower,  Springville,  Utah. 

Second — "Desire,"  by  Mabel  Jarvis,  St.  George,  Utah. 

Third — "The  Pioneer  Heart,"  by  Christen  Hansen,  Mink  Creek,  Idaho. 

Fourth — "As  a  Day  Comes  and  Goes,"  by  Owen  Woodruff  Bunker, 
358  East  First  South,  Salt  Lake  City.  Utah. 

The  names  and  addresses  have  been-  sent  to  the  author  of  "The 
Picture  With  a  Story,"  and  the  prizes  have  been  forwarded  to  the  winners. 
The  poems  will  be  published  in  a  future  number  of  the  Improvement  Era. 

New  Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Superintendents 

The  following  superintendents  have  been  appointed: 

Nevada — The  new  stake  has  chosen  John  E.  Horton  as  superintendent. 
His  address  is  McGill,  Nevada. 

Pioneer — Edward  H.  Sorenson,  929  California  Avenue,  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah. 

Canadian  Mission — President  Joseph  Quinney,  Jr.,  36  Ferndale  Avenue, 
Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Northwestern  States  Mission — Orville  H.  Stanfield,  264  East  25th 
Street,  Portland,  Oregon. 

Gunnison — Charles  E.  Embley,  Centerfield,  Utah,  vice  Christian  A. 
Peterson,  ordained  bishop  of  the  ward. 


Picking  Beans 


We  are  informed  by  Victor  Lindblad,  Scout  Executive,  Cache  Valley 
Council  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  that  picking  beans  affords  an  excellent  op- 
portunity for  boys  to  earn  money  for  their  Winter  schooling.  The  picture 
shows  scouts  out  picking  beans  in  the  bean  patches  of  Cache  valley.  The 
boys  are  organized  into  small  groups,  under  leadership,  and  receive  two 
cents  a  pound  for  the  picking.  The  scouts  are  from  various  troops  of  the 
Council. 


84  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

Current  Events 

A  Study  for  the  M.  I.  A.  Advanced  Senior  Classes 
1926-1927 

(Prepared  by  the  Advanced  Senior  Committee) 
LESSONS  FOR  NOVEMBER,  1926 
1 — POLITICS  AND  INDUSTRY 

1.  The  League.  Reference:  Time,  September  20 „  1926.  The  Seventh 
Assembly  of  the  League  of  Nations  convened  at  Geneva  last  week,  and  voted 
Germany  within  the  League,  and  at  the  same  time  it  proposed  that  the  coun- 
cil be  enlarged  by  three  semi-permanent  seats.  After  some  protests  to  the 
semi-permanent  seats,  forty-eight  affirmative  votes  were  cast  and  President 
Nintchitch  of  Jugoslavia  announced  that  Germany  had  been  unanimously 
elected  to  membership  in  the  League  of  Nations  and  to  a  permanent  seat  on 
the  League  Council.  As  soon  as  Berlin  got  the  news,  forthwith  the  Ger- 
man delegation,  headed  by  Foreign  Minister  Stresemann  and  Count  von 
Bernstorff,  left  for  Geneva.      (See  October  Era,  p.   1213.) 

After  the  German  delegation  had  been  greeted  by  President  Nintchitch, 
Herr  Stresemann  made  the  following  speech: 

"Today  Germany  enters  into  the  circle  of  states,  to  some  of  which  she  has  been 
attached  by  untroubled  ties  of  friendship;  whereas,  others  were  allied  against  her 
during  the  Great  War.  It  surely  is  an  event  of  historical  importance  that  Germany 
and  thece  latter  states  are  now  brought  together  within  the  League  of  Nations  for 
permanent  and   pacific   cooperation. 

"The  Divine  Architect  of  the  World  has  not  created  mankind  as  a  homogeneous 
whole.      He  has  made  nations  of  the  different  racec. 

"But  it  cannot  be  the  purpose  of  a  divine-world  order  that  men  should  direct 
their  supreme  national  energies  against  one  another,  thus  ever  thrusting  back  the  general 
progress  of  civilization." 

When  Herr  Stresemann  had  finished,  Aristide  Briand,  Foreign  Minister 
of  France,  ascended  the  Tribune: 

"Away,"  he  said,    "with  rifles,   machine  guns,  and  cannon!   Make  way   for  peace! 

"Gentlemen,  today  means  peace.  Germany  and  France  are  here  to  cay,  'C'.esf 
finil'    (It   is  finished!) 

"The  fact  that  you  Germans  and  we  French  are  now  here  together  in  this 
Assembly,  speaking  the  same  words  of  optimism,  does  not  mean,  that  all  of  our 
differences  have  been  removed.  *  *  *  But  now  we  shall  confront  them  in  a 
new   spirit   which   guarantees   us   against  another   conflict.       *       *       * 

"If,  as  Dr.  Stresemann  says,  there  is  a  divine  plan  in  which  war  has  no  place, 
he  must  admit  that  in  the  past  this  sometimes  has  been  lost  sight  of.  Let  us  hope 
that  the  divine  plan  will  now  be  carried  out. 

"Arbitrage — that  word  has  now  all  its  prestige  and  all  its  force.  Treaties  of 
arbitration  follow  one  another.  One  people  after  another  promises  not  to  fight  any 
more. 

"That  is  the  spirit  which  the  League  of  Nations  is  spreading  and  that  is  why 
peoples  should  aid  and  protect  the  League. 

"With  the  League,  peace.      Without  the  League,   risks  of  bloody  war." 

Questions:  Where  and  by  whom  was  the  League  of  Nations  conceived?  What 
is  its  purpose?  How  many  countries  have  joined  it?  Where  and  how  often  does  it 
meet?  What  is  the  spirit  of  the  League  that  Briand  mentions?  Discuss  the  League 
pro  and  con.      Look  up  other  magazines. 

2.  Barriers  between  France  and  Germany  Continue  to  Exist  Regardless 
of  Germany's  Entering  the  League. — Reference:  See  article  Salt 
Lake  Tribune,  September  26,   1926,  by  Frank  H.  Simonds. 

"How  has  Germany's  entrance  affected  the  League?"  That  is  a  ques- 
tion on  many  lips.      Some  think   that  as  a   result   of   it   the  crisis!  of  the 


MUTUAL     WORK  85 

League  has  ibeen  reached  and  that  it  is  destined  to  enter  a  period  of  real! 
decline.  That  it  is  not  as  democratic  as  reported — that  is,  a  democratic 
institution  made  up  of  great  and  small  powers  each  of  which  were  in- 
dependent; but  rather  an  institution  where  the  great  powers  exercise  a  con- 
trolling influence  over  the  small  ones,  the  result  being  that  the  small  powers 
are  disappointed. 

Germany  doubtless  entered  the  League  to  obtain  the  evacuation  of  the 
Sarre  and  Rhineland,  to  seek  the  return  of  the  Danzig  corridor,  together 
with  Upper  Silesia.  In  other  words,  to  serve  her  own  ends.  She  believes 
she  can  fight  better  for  her  interests  in  the  League  than  out. 

France,  on  the  other  hand,  has  assented  to  Germany's  admission  because 
she  believes  that  Germany,  under  the  influence  of  the  League,  in  which  France 
is  strong  and  has  many  friends,  can  best  be  opposed.  That  is,  she  can, 
lose  less  with  Germany  in,  than  without.  Each  one  is  for  number  one 
first. 

Questions:  If  the  above  is  true,  are  the  words  of  conciliation  between 
Minister  Stresemann  of  Germany  and  Minister  Briand  of  France  at  the 
last  Assembly  of  the  League  sincere?  Has  each  country  an  ulterior  pur- 
pose in  entering  the  League,  or  a  sincere  desire  for  permanent  peace  and 
good  will  between  nations,  or  both?     Discuss  by  consulting  other  references. 

3.   German    and   French   Industrial    Combine — References:      Salt   Lake 
Tribune,  September  26,    1926;   article  by  Wm.  Bird. 

"From  now  on  it  looks  as  if  the  two  great  continental  powers  must  be  dealt 
with  as  one.  The  iron  of  Lorraine  and  the  coal  of  the  Sarre — perhaps  eventually  of 
Upper  Silesia  as  well — are  united,  and  together  they  constitute  a  machine  shop  second 
to    the   United    States    alone." 

Questions:  When  this  economic  cooperation  of  France  and  Germany  is  completed 
and  becomes  a  working  reality,  how  is  it  going  to  affect  continental  Europe?  How 
England?  How  America?  Why  has  France  forsaken  her  allies  on  the  south  and  east, 
as  well  as  on  the  wect?  Will  she  benefit  more  by  the  new  combine?  If  so,  how? 

II.— ART  AND  LITERATURE 

Olga  Samoroff,  able  Russian  pianist,  lately  returned  from  Europe, 
and,  writing  for  the  New  York  Evening  Post  in  an  article  for  that  paper, 
declares  that  Europe,  the  great  center  of  musical  culture,  has  lost  her  musical 
prestige.  She  says  it  is  sad  to  see  this  condition  and  laments  it  very  much. 
"On  the  human  side,"  she  says,  "poverty  is  the  rule,  and  actual  misery  only 
too  frequent  among  musicians,  while  on  the  artistic  side,  the  activities  of 
concert  halls  and  operas,  filled  as  they  are  with  memories  of  past  glories, 
force  upon  the  observer  the  conclusion  that  art  is  hopelessly  dependent 
upon  economic  prosperity. 

"A  large  percentage  of  composers,  performers,  and  teachers  who  make  our  musical 
life  what  it  is  today,  are  Europeans,  and  the  fundamentals  of  the  whole  art  as  we 
know  it  today,  are  European.  But  America  is  without  doubt  the  centre  and  seat 
of   achievement    in    musical    performance. 

"The  standards  in  Europe  have  lowered  because  bf  the  (inferior  music  there 
produced,  and  the  audiences  have  already  deteriorated  in  quality.  The  cultured  class 
have  not  the  money  for  concerts  and  operas,  and  the  others  cannot  discriminate  between 
the  good  and  the  mediocre  music." 

Has  America   really  become  the  music  centre? 

If  so,  will  Europe  leave  her  in  undisputed  possession  of  this  coveted  title? 

What  would  be  the  cause  of  such  a  change? — See   Time.   September    13,    192  6. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  an  article  by  Clifford  Smith  in  the  Inter- 
national Book  Review  of  the  Literary  Digest,  that  through  a  questionaire 
sent  out  by  Mr.  Clarence  E.  Cason,  it  is  affirmed  that  Charles  Dickens  is 
still  one  of  the  most  widely  read  authors  in  the  United  States.  A  leading 
bookseller   reports    that   he   sells   more    sets    of    Charles   Dickens    than    anv 


86  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

other  author,  a  statement  more  or  less  in  agreement  with  testimony  from 
others  who  are  in  a  position  to  know  who's  who  in  the  book  world. 
The  opposite  is  true  of  his  contemporaries.  Dickens  is  as  much  read  as  he 
ever  was.  if  not  more:  but  there  is  less  interest  as  time  goes  on  in  Thackeray, 
Scott  and  George  Eliot.  Records  of  booksellers  and  agents  would  indicate 
that  the  circulation  of  the  novels  of  Dickens  is  about  fifty  per  cent  above 
that  of  the  average  standard  fiction. 

"Dickens  has  just  been  proved  a  twentieth  century  best  seller,  while  the  average 
Victorian  novel  carries  a  foreign,  unappetizing  flavor  to  twentieth  century  palates. 

"How  can  we  explain  the  extraordinary  vitality  of  his  work?  Not  in  his  pathoj, 
nor  in  his  style.  We  cannot  explain  the  inexplicable.  The  secret  of  Dickens  is  the 
secret  of  all  genius.  He  created  a  world  of  his  own  and  filled  it  with  the  creatures  of 
his  imagination.  A  vivid  world,  a  world  unforgetable,  as  intensely  human,  for  all  its 
grote^queries  and  exaggerations,  as  the  world  we  live  in.  A  world  of  Micawber, 
Captain  Cuttle,  Squeers,  Picksniff,  Pickwick,  Sam  Weller  and  Uriah  Heep.  Worlds 
of  that  sort  do  not  pass  with  the  passing  century." 

Have  you  read  Dickens?  What  do  you  consider  his  charm?  What  is  his  greatest 
literary  merit?  What  reforms  were  the  result  of  his  writings?  What  makes  Dickens 
and  his  contemporaries  live   in  the   memories  of   the   people? 

Let  Dickens  speak  for  himself. 

Ill— SCIENCE  AND  INVENTION 

We  all  have  what  is  called  a  human  aura;  it  is  sometimes  called  the 
etheric  double,  or  etheric  body.  Attempts  to  photograph  the  aura  have  not 
been  successful.  An  illuminating  article  on  this  phenomenon  appears  in 
Science  and  Invention  magazine  of  July,  1926,  p  203.  What  is  the  Aura? 
Is  it  seemingly  related  to  our  emotions?  Has  our  health  anything- to  do 
with  the  etheric  self? 

A  machine  is  being  used  to  determine  whether  a  person  is  telling 
the  truth  or  not.  Science  and  Invention  magazine,  July,  1926,  page  224. 
Discuss  the  probable  effects  of  measuring  morals  by  machinery. 

What  is  your  judgment  of  the  $21,000  challenge  made  by  the  magazine,  Science 
and  Invention,  October  number,    1926,  page  503? 

What  is  the  relative  value  of  freshly  cooked  foods  and  warmed-over  foods? 
Are  vitamines  in  food  destroyed  by  long  cooking?  (See  Literary  Digest,  Sept.  25, 
1926,  p.  220.)  May  eggs  be  infected  by  what  the  hen  eats?  Will  intoxicants  cau;e 
less  drunkenness  because  they  are  made  at  home?  Which  is  more  dangerous,  the  home- 
brewed beer  and  the  home-made  wine  or  the  commercially  prepared  beer  and  wine? 
Does  nature  care  any  more  for  human  beings  than  she  does  for  the  lower  animals? 
("The  Danger  of  Home  Brew,"  Literary  Digest,  September  25,   1926,  p.  24.) 

Is  it  a  good  thing  to  discuss  one's  misfortunes?  Can  joy  of  work 
or  love  be  "commanded  any  more  than  appetite  can?  What  would  Dr. 
Redtenbacker  substitute  for  force  in  education,  family  life  and  civilization? 
(See  "The  Failure  of  Force  in  Education,"  Literary  Digest,  September  11, 
1926,  page  20.) 

Herbert  Hoover  has  recently  said  that  the  entire  banking  fraternity 
does  not  perform  the  service"  to  mankind  in  a  year  that  Faraday,  long  since 
dead,  performs  every  day.  Who  was  Faraday?  Who  is  Herbert  Hoover? 
Who  organized  the  National  Academy  of  Science?  Who  are  the  members 
of  this  academy?  How  is  it  supported?  Why  is  it  perhaps  the  best  invest- 
ment of  our  government  from  a  money-making  point  of  view?  (See  article, 
"The  Money  Value  of  a  Scientist"  by  French  Strother,  in  the  Reader's 
Digest  for  October,  1926,  p.  331,  or  The  World's  Work,  September,  1926.) 

"Modern  discovery  makes  the  miraculous  mote  credible  than  less  so.  As  far  as 
communication  from  unbridgcd  space  is  concerned  this  offers  no  difficulty  to  the  age  of 
wireless.  As  radio  was  unknown  until  recently,  other  means  of  communication  from 
mind  to  mind,  not  yet  understood,  may  in  the  future  be  discovered.  (Fron» 
Scientific  Monthly,  September,    1926,   p.    196.) 


The  Catholic  petition  for  repeal  of  the  church  laws  in>  Mexico  was-  re- 
jected by  the  Mexican  chamber  of  deputies,  Sept.  24,  by  a  vote  of  171  to  1. 

French  war  veterans  informed  Poincare,  on  Oct.  10,  that  France  cannot 
pay  the  United  States  seven  billion  francs.  Poincare  replied  that  France 
would  not  undertake  to  pay  beyond  her  capacity. 

Enforcement  of  the  18th  Amendment  to  the  Constitution,  and  of  the 
Volstead  Law  is  the  program  of  the  Republican  party  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  according  to  the  platform  adopted,  Sept.  27,  1926.  Participation  of 
the  "wet  and  dry"  referendum  by  the  voters  is  also  urged. 

An  international  disarmament  conference,  to  convene  before  next  Sep- 
tember, was  agreed  on,  Sept.  24,  1926,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  As- 
sembly of  the  League  of  Nations  at  Geneva.  Our  government  is  said  to  object 
to  the  presence  at  such  a  conference  of  representatives  of  countries  that  have 
no  navies. 

The  Rt.-Rev.  John  Joseph  Mitty  of  New  York  was  installed  fs  bishop 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  diocese  of  Salt  Lake  City,  by  Patrick  Cardinal  Hayes, 
archbishop  of  New  York,  at  the  Madeleine  Cathedral,  Oct.  7,  1926.  Among 
the  distinguished  attendants  present  were  the  governor  of  the  State,  the  mayor 
of  the  City  and  representative  business  men.  , 

Wm.  H.  fit/water,  former  fire  chief  of  Salt  Lake  City,  died  in  a  Salt 
Lake  City  hospital,  Oct.  6,  after  a  long  illness.  He  was  born  in  Shef- 
field, England,  June  27,  185  9,  and  came  to  Utah  while  still  a  young  man. 
In  Jan.,  1920,  he  was  appointed  chief  of  the  fire  department  by  Mayor 
Bock  and  was  re-appointed  by  Mayor  Neslen  in  1921.  He  resigned  June 
30,    1925,   and  was  succeeded  by  his  assistant,   Walter  S.  Knight. 

A  rather  heavy  fall  in  the  temperature  in  Utah  and  all  over  the  North- 
west was  reported  on  the  24th  of  Sept.,  1926.  At  the  Salt  Lake  weather 
station,  the  thermometer  registered  35  above  at  8  o'clock,  a.  m.,  at  Brighton 
and  in  the  City  Creek  it  was  24  above.  Snow  and  frost  were  reported  from 
Wyoming,  Montana,  North  Dakota,  and  southern  Canada.  Spokane,  on 
Sept.  23,  had  the  earliest  snow  since  1903  and  a  fall  of  the  mercury  to 
31    above  zero. 

An  unusual  display  of"  Aurora  Borealis  was  witnessed  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
Oct.  15,  about  7  p.  m.  As  many  as  six  shafts  of  light  shot  up  out  of  the 
north  and  illuminated  the  sky.  A  violent  magnetic  storm  swept  over  the 
northeastern  parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  the  "northern 
lights"  were  so  strong  that  the  operation  of  telegraph  and  cable  wires 
was  interfered  with  by  the  earth  currents.  From  San  Francisco  and  Kansas 
City  also  came  reports  of  magnetic  earth  currents  strong  enough  to  interfere 
with  the  wire  service. 

Italy  and  Great  Britain  Were  represented  in  a  private  conference,  Sept. 
30,  1926,  on  board  an  Italian  yacht,  near  Leghorn,  where  Austen  Cham- 
berlain, British  foreign  secretary,  was  the  guest  of  Mussolini,  the  Italian 
dictator.  What  the  subject  of  the  conference  was  is  not  known,  but  it  is 
surmised  that  the  meeting  was  intended  to  counterbalance  the  meeting  at 
Thoiry  between  Stresemann  and  Briand,  shortly  after  Germany  had  been 
admitted  to  the  League  of  Nations.  But  it  is  not  apparent  that  the  latter 
conference  called  for  a   "counterbalance."      It   was  a   very   natural   expression 


88  ,  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

of   good  will   between   two   former   adversaries,   and   a   beginning   of   a    new, 
peaceful  policy.     The  Anglo-Italian  confab  had  no  such  significance. 

Relics  of  the  ill-fated  Sir  John  Franklin  expedition,  which  perished  in 
the  Arctic  regions  in  1847,  were  brought  to  Edmonton,  Alta.,  Oct.  15, 
1926,  by  J.  F.  Moran,  a  Canadian  government  inspector.  The  articles 
included  a  skull  and  a  bit  of  navy  cloth,  a  piece  of  oak  from  'an  ice  sled 
and  a  bit  of  shoe  leather.  The  relics  were  found  by  Peter  Norberg,  a  trader, 
at  Thunder  Cove,  Adelaide  peninsula,  1,300  miles  northeast  of  Edmonton, 
and  will  be  taken  to  Ottawa.  Sir*  John  set  out  in  1845,  in  the  Erebus  and 
Terror,  with  129  officers  and  men,  to  explore  the  Arctic  ocean.  They  all 
perished  on  or  near  King  William's  land.  Many  bodies  were  found  by 
Lieutenant  Schwatka  in  1879-80. 

His  eminence  Patrick  Cardinal  Hayes  dedicated  a  new  church  at  thej 
Dolores  mission,  Oct.  10,  1926,  as  part  of  the  Catholic  celebration  of  the 
San  Francisco  sesqui-centenniai  anniversary  of  the  foundation  of  the  city 
and  the  434th  anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus.  The 
prelate,  in  his  sermon  said,  in  part,  that  Mussolini  had  "appreciated  the  value 
of  religion"  and  that  his  attitude  was  "symptomatic  of  an  approachment 
between  the  forces  that  have  been  hostile  since  the  days  of  Garibaldi."  In 
other  words,  in  the  estimation  of  Cardinal  Hayes,  Mussolini,  the  political 
despot,  appreciates  the  value  of  an  alliance  with  the  pope,  the  ecclesiastical 
autocrat. 

Richard  Franklin  Pettigrew,  former  U.  S.  senator  from  South  Dakota, 
died  Oct.  5,  1926,  at  Sioux  Falls,  S.  D.,  78  years  old.  He  was  born  at 
Ludlow,  Vt.,  July  23,  1848,  and  came  to  Sioux  Falls,  in  1869,  when  that 
place  still  was  in  the  tent  and  log  cabin  stage.  He  soon  became  one  of  the 
political  leaders,  and,  in  1896,  he  became  a  figure  of  national  note  when  he 
walked  out  of  the  Republican  national  convention  upon  its  adoption  of  a 
platform  ignoring  his  belief  in  the  free  coinage  of  silver.  He  supported  Bryan 
in  that  election  and  thereafter  joined  in  the  support  of  independent  party 
movements.  He  was  the  first  senator  from  South  Dakota  on  that  state's 
admission  to  the  Union  in  1889,  having  previously  served  as  a  delegate  to 
congress  from  Dakota  territory. 

The  giant  biplane  S-35  was  a  total  loss,  Sept.  21,  when  an  attempt 
was  made  to  hop  off  for  a  non-stop  flight  between  New  York  and  Paris. 
The  plane,  carrying  a  record  weight  of  28,000  pounds,  was  unable  to  rise, 
but  instead  crashed  over  an  embankment  on  the  Roosevelt  field.  It  caught 
fire  almost  instantly.  Charles  W.  Clavier,  radio  operator,  and  Jacob 
Islamoff,  mechanic,  perished  in  the  flames,  but  Captain  Rene  Fonck,  com- 
mander, and  Lieutenant  Lawrence  Wm.  Curtin,  U.  S.  N.  navigator,  suc- 
ceeded in  saving  themselves.  A  crowd  of  more  than  1,000  that  had  cheered 
the  fliers  two  minutes  before  stood  helplessly  by,  awe-struck,  unable  even  to 
attempt  a  rescue  of  the  two  trapped  men,  while  the  2,300  gallons  of  gasoline 
in  the  plane  burned  with  the  intensity  of  an  inferno. 

Sheep  for  Russia.  No  less  than  700  sheep  were  shipped  from  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Sanpete  Co.,  Utah,  to  Russia,  according  to  a  dispatch  dated  Sept.  16. 
They  were  the  finest  Rambouillet  sheep,  and  will  be  used  to  improve  the 
stock.  The  purchases  here  included  265  head  from  John  H.  Seely  &  Sons 
Company,  200  head  from  W.  D.  Candland  ft  Sons  and  225  ewes  and  fifty- 
four  rams  from  John  K.  Madsen.  The  members  of  the  commission,  who 
visited  the  Mt.  Pleasant  flock-masters  and  personally  selected  their  purchases, 
were  Michel  S.  Pereferkovitch,  Jacob  W.  Slodtervitch,  Stephen  Obinzow  and 
J.  W.  Pincus  of  the  Amtorg  Trading  Company  of  New  York,  fiscal  agent 
for  the  commission.      This  is  the  second  shipment  of  Mt.   Pleasant's  world- 


PASSING     EVENTS  89 

famed  Rambouillets  to  be  shipped  to  Russia,  the  Russian  government  having 
made  its  initial  purchase  here  in  1925. 

Mrs.  Annie  Brown  Adams,  the  last  surviving  member  of  the  family  of 
John  Brown,  the  hero  of  the  tragedy  of  Harper's  Ferry,  passed  away,  Oct. 
4,  1926,  at  Eureka,  Cal.,  at  the  ranch  home  of  her  daughter.  She  recently 
had  a  fall  in  which  she  fractured  her  hip,  and  this  accident,  it  is  thought, 
hastened  her  death.  However,  she  was  87  years  of  age.  In  185  9  she  wit- 
nessed the  hanging  of  her  father  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  for  his  part  in  a 
revolutionary  movement  by  abolitionists.  She  was  then  20  years  old. 
Throughout  her  life  Mrs.  Adams  was  reticent  regarding  her  spectacular, 
tragic  girlhood,  when  talking  to  immediate  members  of  her  family.  She 
talked  more  freely  of  the  Harper's  Ferry  raid  and  her  father's  execution  with 
intimate  friends.  The  growing  weakness  which  marked  her  last  days  clouded 
her  memory  and  erased  from  it  Harper's  Ferry  and  all  that  it  meant  to  her. 

Calvin  Willard  Richards  passed  away,  Oct.  3,  1926,  at  a  Salt  Lake 
hospital,  after  several  months'  illness.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Willard  Richards 
and  Rhoda  Foss  Richards,  and  was  born  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Oct.  7,  1852. 
His  father,  :who  was  the  first  editor  of  The  Deseret  News,  died  when  Calvin 
was  a  babe  and  soon  after  his  mother  moved  to  Farmington,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  becoming  her  chief  support.  He  married  Emma  Irene  Walker  in 
December,  1872.  He  superintended  the  building  of  the  Davis  county 
courthouse  in  1878  and  the  same  year  homesteaded  land  east  of  Fielding  and 
was  a  pioneer  in  bringing  Bear  river  water  on  the  land  there.  He  took  con- 
tracts in  1880  on  the  Santa  Fe  railroad  construction  in  Arizona.  All  this 
time  he  retained  his  home  at  Farmington,  moving  to  Fielding  in  1893.  His 
wife  died  the  same  year  leaving  him  with  nine  children.  He  married  Martha 
Louise  Madsen  of  Brigham  City,  in  1900  and  in  1902-4  filled  a  mission 
to  England.  Surviving  are  his  widow  and  11  children,  39  grandchildren  and 
1  1    great-grandchildren  also  a  number  of  brothers  and  sisters. 

Joseph  Richards,  14 -year-old  son  of  Stephen  L.  Richards,  died,  Sep't. 
30,  1926,  at  his  home,  as  a  result  of  injuries  sustained  when  struck  by  a  street 
car  the  preceding  evening.  It  seems  that  the  boy  was  walking  down  the 
track  with  his  hat  down  and  his  head  bent  forward,  to  protect  his  eyes  in 
the  heavy  storm,  and  that  the  motorman  did  not  see  him  until  it  was  too 
late  to  prevent  the  collision.  The  accident  happened  at  2890  Highland  drive. 
According  to  the  motorman,  the  car,  which  was  southbound,  was  stopped 
in  about  three  car  lengths  after  he  had  hit  the  boy.  He  said  that  he  could  not 
stop  sooner  because  of  the  slippery  condition  of  the  track,  due  to  wet  leaves 
and  the  rain.  The  motorman  also  said  that,  even  though  he  had  a  headlight 
on  the  street  car,  the  headlights  of  approaching  automobiles  limited  his  vision 
to  only  about  ten  feet  in  front  of  him,  from  which  statement  it  would 
appear  that  the  glaring  headlights,  which  so  many  automobiles  carry  in  de- 
fiance of  the  regulations,  are  a  menace  to  the  public.  The  ipolice  report 
stated  that  a  dent  was  found  in  the  street  car  fender  and  the  glass  <pf  the 
headlight  was  broken  by  the  impact  when  the  boy  was  struck. 

Ex-Governor  Simon  Bamberger  passed  away  in  his  apartment,  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  Oct.  6,  1926,  after  a  brief  illness.  Acute  indigestion  was  given 
as  the  cause  of  death.  Mr.  Bamberger  was  born  in  Darmstadt,  Germany, 
Feb.  27,  1845.  At  the  age  of  14  years,  he  came  to  America,  and  made  his 
way  to  Cincinnati,  O.,  and  then  to  Pleasant  Hill,  Mo.,  where  he  and  his 
brother  established  a  small  store.  Later  he  made  his  way  west  and  came 
to  Salt  Lake,  where  he  became  interested  in  mining  and  railroading.  In 
Utah,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  then  a  state 
senator,  and,  in  1916,  the  governor  of  the  State.  Since  retiring  from  public 
service  with   the  expiration   of  his   term  as  chief   executive,    Governor  Bam- 


90  IMPROVEMENT    ERA 

berger  had  devoted  his  time  and  energies  toward  the  operation  of  the  Bam- 
berger Electric  railroad,  of  which  he  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors, 
and  toward  the  building  of  a  railroad  to  connect  Salt  Lake  City  with  the 
Uintah  basin.  Until  within  the  past  year  he  occupied  the  position  of  president 
of  the  Salt  Lake  &  Denver  Railroad  Company,  which  proposes  to  construct 
the  Uintah  basin  line. 

The  Golden  Wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  H.  Dean,  of  Shelley,  Idaho, 
was  celebrated  in  a  most  fitting  style  on  Monday,  Oct.  1 1,  1926,  in  the  Shel- 
ley First  ward  chapel.  The  entire  ward  was  invited,  and  many  guests  from 
the  surrounding  wards.  A  splendid  program,  giving  a  review  of  the  activities 
of  the  couple  for  the  last  fifty  years,  was  given.  Delicious  refreshments  were 
served.  Joseph  H.  Dean  was  born  Oct.  16,  1855,  in  Tamiton,  England, 
and  came  to  Utah  as  a  child.  Sarah  Arnold  Dean  was  born  at  Fort  Harriman, 
Utah,  on  Dec.  13,  1854.  They  were  married  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Oct.  11, 
1876.  Brother  Dean  and  his  wife  filled  a  four-years'  mission  to  Hawaii;  he 
also  filled  two  other  missions:  one  to  Samoa,  in  1887;  and  another  to 
Hawaii,  in  1916.  He  opened  the  Samoan  mission  in  1888;  accompanied 
by  his  wife,  Florence  Ridges  Dean.  He  has  spent  ten  years  of  his  life  in  the 
missionary  field.  He  has  twenty-two  children,  each  of  his  wives  having  had 
eleven.  He  has  forty-seven  grandchildren  and  one  great-grandchild.  As  a 
musician,  he  is  well  known  in  the  Church,  being  a  composer  of  music  as 
well  as  a  director.  Several  splendid  songs  are  sung  to  his  credit.  He  has 
also  given  us  many  beautiful  poems,  published  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Church  magazines. — Cora  Christensen,  Shelley,  Idaho. 


When  And  Where  The  Gospel  Has  Been  Preached 

We  are  indebted  to  Assistant  Church  Historian  Andrew  Jenson  for  the 
following  dates  showing  the  introduction  of  the  gospel  to  the  nations  named: 

1830 — United  States.  1850 — Denmark.  1853 — South  Africa. 

1833 — Canada.  1850 — Hawaii.  ,        1853 — Germany. 

183  7 — England.  1851 — Switzerland.  1854 — New  Zealand. 

1839 — Scotland.  1851 — Norway.  1861 — Holland. 

1840 — Wales.  1851 — Iceland.  1864 — Austria. 

1840 — Australia.  1851 — India.  18  78 — Mexico. 

1841 — Palestine.  1852 — Malta.  1875 — Finland. 

1843 — Society  Islands  1852 — Siam.  1884— Turkey. 

1847 — Jersey  Islands.  1852— China.  1888 — Samoa. 

1849 — France.  1852 — South  America    (Chili)     1888 — Balkan  States. 

1850 — Sweden.  1853 — Gibraltar.  1889 — Belgium. 

1850 — Italy.  1853— West   Indies.  1891 — Tonga. 

1901 — Japan. 


The  Era  Over  the  Top 

As  we  go  to  press  with  this  number,  a  telegram  from  Provo  states  that 
six  of  the  leading  wards  of  Utah  stake  have  finished  canvassing  and  obtained 
the  full  quota  of  Era  subscriptions. 


"We  thank  you  for  the  Improvement  Era,  which  we  receive  regularly.  We  ap- 
preciate very  much  the  encouragement  and  inspiration  from  its  valuable  pages." — 
Walter  F.  Ririe,  Conference  President,  St.  John,  N.  B.,  Canada. 

"Thanks  for  the  Era.  It  contains  splendid  articles  and  an  uplifting  spirit.  These 
are  sources  of  help  and  encouragement  to  us  in  our  important  missionary  work." — 
William  F.  Ashton,  Conference  Secretary,   Amsterdam,   Holland. 

"The  value  of  the  Era  to  the  missionary  can  hardly  be  over-estimated.  The 
magazine  is  one  of  our  chief  connections  with  the  outside  world  and  the  other  missions. 
Accept  our  heartiest  thanks  for  past  issues,  and  our  good  wishes  for  the  continued 
success  of  the  publication  in  the  future." — Robert  R.  Burton,  Branch  President,  Dres- 
den,  Germany. 


IMPROVEMENT  ERA,  NOVEMBER,   1926 

Two  Dollars  per  Annum 

Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  as  second-class  matter 

Heber  J.  Grant,  Ipd't  Melvin  J.  Ballard,  Business  Mgr. 

Edward  H.  Anderson.      {  Moroni  Snow,  Assistant. 

Acceptance  for  mailing  at  special  rate  of  postage  provided  for  in  Section  1 103,  Act  of 
October  3,   1917,  authorized  on  July  2,  1918 

CONTENTS 

Portrait  of  President  Heber  J.  Grant Frontispiece 

The  Life  Boat.      A  Poem Lula   Greene   Richards 1 

The   Living  Prophet  __-_ Elder  John  A.  Widtsoe 3 

Thanksgiving.      A  Poem  A.  Henderson  8 

President  Heber  J.  Grant's  Seventieth  Anniversary 9 

England  and  the  Jews /,  M.  Sjodahl 21 

Regrets.      A  Poem  George    Walter    23 

Reinhard   Maeser   J.  W.  Jensen 24 

A  Thought  Junius   F.    Wells 25 

Borrowed    Shade-Trees.      A    Story Douglas  Brian  26 

Westerners    in    Action.      Illustrated 2  9 

Thanksgiving    Fred  J.  Holton 3  3 

Faith.      A  Poem  Sidney  A.  Hanks,  Sr 35 

Among  the   "Mormons" Captain  Gilbert  Franb.au 36 

His  Presence  Seems  Everywhere.     A  Poem Ida  R.  Alldredge 39 

Archaeological  Finds  in  Arizona /.  M.  Sjodahl 40 

Source  Divine.      A  Poem Alice  Morrill  44 

The  First  Issue  of  the  Deseret  News.     Illustrated____Grace    Wharton    Montaigne 45 

The  Lord  is  My  Shepherd.     A  Poem David  Archibald   48 

Bits   of  Philosophy Nephi  Jensen  48 

Where  Chumship  Should  Reign The  Valve  World 49 

Here  and  There Dorothy  C.   Retsloff 50 

What  a  Father  Means N.   Glenn   Stanford 5  1 

Thoughts   and   Maxims Fred  L.  W.  Bennett 55 

Messages  from  the  Missions.      Illustrated 56 

Our  Baby.     A  Poem Joseph  Longking  Townsend  .^...65 

Editors'   Table — Mission  of  the  Saints  to  Declare 

the  Gospel  by  Word  and  Act Prest.  Heber  J.  Grant 66 

Concerning  Plural  Marriage Prest.  Heber  J.  Grant 74 

The  Ninety-seventh  Semi- Annual  Conference 75 

Priesthood   Quorums    77 

Mutual   Work   78 

Passing  Events  - - 87 

When  and  Where  the  Gospel  has  been  Preached Andrew  Jenson  90 


Advertising  Policy  of  the  Era 

We    accept    only    the    highest    class    of    advertising.       We    recommend    to    our     readers 
the   firms  and   goods   found   in   our  advertising   pages. 

ADVERTISERS   IN   THIS  ISSUE 

Beneficial  Life  Ins.   Co.  LaSalle    Extension   University 

Bennett's    Service    Stations  Miskin  Scraper  Works 

City   Motor  Sales   Co.  Modcl    Knitting    Works 

Deseret    News  Southern   Pacific  Lines 

Dinwoodey  Furniture  Co.  Utah   Home   Fire   Ins.    Co. 

Inteimountain  Life  Ins.  Co.  Utah  Power  &  Light  Co. 

Jos.    Wm.   Tavln'     I  -taker  Zion's  Co-operative   Mctle.  Inst. 

L.    D.   S.  Business  College  Salt   Lake   Knitting  Store 


HUMOROUS  HINTS 

"You  are  a  little  dear,"  said  the  fond  hubby  to  his  expensive  wife. — Perrins. 

Height  of  hard  luck — A  Florida  real  estate  agent  with  lockjaw. — Perrins. 

*      *      *      * 

A  young  man  in  horn-rimmed  spectacles  said  to  a  pretty  girl:  "Do  you  believe 
in   the   higher  pantheism?" 

"No,"  said  she,  "I  sure  don't,  but  I  must  say  there's  no  sense  in  wearing  them  as 
low  as  you  do,  so  that  they  get  all  dirty  and  fringed  at  the  bottom." — L.  F. 

More   pleasant   squeezes:      An   elderly   lady    was    visiting    the    hospital. 

"Poor  boy,"  she  said  to  an  ex-soldier  who  had  been  wounded,  "you  must 
have   gone   through   some   tight   squeezes." 

"Well,  ma'am,"  he  stammered,  blushing  a  violent  pink,  "the  nurses  here  have 
been  pretty  good  to  me,  I  must  admit." — L.  F. 


La  Salle  Extension  University 

.The  World's  Largest  Business  Training  Institution 

FIND  YOURSELF  THROUGH  LASALLE 

LaSalle  Extension  University,  Improvement  Era  or  214  Templeton  Bldg.,  Silt  Lake  City,  Ut  h 

I  would  welcome  an   outline  of  your  SALARY-DOUBLING  PLAN,  together 

with  a  copy  of  "Ten  Years'  Promotion  in  One,"  all  without  obligation.     I  am 

interested  in  field  checked  below: 

□  BUSINESS    MANAGEMENT:  □     TRAFFIC    Management    Foreign 
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Sales    and    Departmental    Execu-  □     Industrial    Management, 

ti-ve    positions.  Banking  and   Finance. 

□  HIGHER     ACCOUNTANCY:  □     Modern     Foremanship    and    Pro- 
Training  for  position  as  Auditor,  duction    Methods. 
Comptroller,       Certified       Public  3     Personnel  and  Employment  Man- 

|Accountant,    etc.  agement. 

3     MODERN     SALESMANSHIP:  3     Railway    Station    Management. 

Leading  to  position  as  Sales  Ex-  CI     Commercial    Law 

ecutive,     Salesman,    Sales    Coach  □     Expert    Bookkeeping, 

or      Trainer,      Sales      Promotion  □     Business    English 

Manager,    Manufacturer's    Agent,  I     Commercial     Spanish. 

Solicitor,  and  all  positions  in  re-  Q     Effective  Speaking 

tail,       wholesale,       or      specialty  3     C   P.   A.   Coaching  for   Advanced 

selling.  Accountants. 

□  LAW:      Training   for   Bar:    LL.B.  !7 
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□  MODERN     BUSINESS     CORRES-  ttfrfTW  VFADC 
PONDENCE      AND      PRACTICE:  1  Hill     I  IiiAl\5 
Training    for    position    as    Sales  r>T?riTl/l'/~k'TTn"l\J  TIM 
or       Collection       Correspondent,  r'JClUMLF  1  lUll   111 
Sales    Promotion    Manager,    Mail  01X1?" 

Sales    Manager,    Secretary,    etc.  VfiiJL 

NAME  ADDRESS 


WHEN   WRITING   TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION   THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


MISKIN    SCRAPERS 


EASY 

TO 

HANDLE 

EASY 

TO 
PULL 


FOR 

HORSES 

OR 

TRACTOR 


WEEDS     GROW     UP     AROUND     ALL     OTHER     SCRAPERS     WHERE     THE 

MISKIN    IS    KNOWN 

Level  your  farm  now.  NO  BETTER  INVESTMENT  CAN  POSSIBLY  BE 
MADE  AT  THIS  TIME,  as  it  is  well  known  that  a  leveled  farm  is  cheaper 
to  operate,  requires  less  water  to  irrigate  and  less  labor  and  time  to 
produce  an  even  distribution  of  crops  and  a  much  greater  yield.  The  effi- 
cient and  economical   way  to  do  this  is  with  a  Miskin   Scraper. 

WRITE    FOR    CATALOG 
Manufactured  only  by 

MISKIN  SCRAPER  WORKS 

UCON,    IDAHO 


L.  P.  S.  GARMENTS 

The  "Temple  Brand"  Garments  are  handled  only  by  your  leading  mer- 
chants. We  make  a  Variety  of  Grades  and  Weights  to  meet  every  requirement, 
with  strings  and  buttons,  long  or  short  sleeves  and  legs  as  you  want  them 
according  to  seasonable  desires.     Samples  submitted  on  request. 


For   Ladies 

No.  1— Flat  Weave  Light $  .95 

No.  2— Ribbed  Weave  Light 1.25 

No.  12— Extra  Quality  Flat 1.25 

No.  803— Extra     Quality     Ribbed 

Light  1.50 

No.  862 — Extra    Fine    Mercerized 

•  Lisle  2.25 

No.  22— Silk  Stripe  Med 1.50 

No.  850 — Imported  Lisle  Gauze....  1.95 


For  Men 
No.  902— Ribbed  Light  Weight  ...$1.25 

No.  903— Ribbed  Extra  Quality...  1.50 

No.  925— Med.  Light  Weight 1.75 

No.  962 — Extra    Fine    Mercerized 

Lisle  2.75 

No.  975— Med.  Heavy  Weight 2.25 

No.  990— Heavy  Ecru.  Cotton 2.50 

No.  9107— Wool  and  Cotton 4.00 


To  insure  a  good  fit  give  bust  measure,  height,  and  weight,  specify  whether 
garments  are  for  men  or  women,  and  state  whether  long  sleeves,  angle  length 
or  short   sleeves,  three   quarter  legs  are  desired.     Garments  marked   15c  pair 
extra.    We  prepay  postage  to  all  parts  of  United  States. 

Oldest  Knitting  Store  in   Utah 

SALT  LAKE  KNITTING  STORE,  70  Main  St.,  Salt  Lake  City 


WHEN   WRITING   TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION   THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


LATTER-DAY  SAINTS  GARMENTS 

From  FACTORY  direct  to  you.     Made  to  ORDER  Old  or  New  Style. 
Lowest  Price.     Highest  Quality. 

No.  No. 

209  All  fine  silk  $5.80         24  Heavy    bleached    $2.20 

4  Lt.  flat  weave  ..- 95         10  Med.   1/3   wool  2.75 

11   Lt.  cotton  unbleached  1.40         16  Heavy   1/3   wool 3.75 

20  Lt.  cotton  bleached  1.60         18  All   Merino   wool   5.50 

60  Medium    unbleached    1.65         59  Med.  M»  silk  VS  wool 7.00 

22   Medium  bleached    1.85         21  Light  silk  stripe  wool  4.25 

19   Heavy    unbleached    2.00  25   Lt.    Mj  silk   V2   wool    5.00 

If  Postal  M.  O.  is  inclosed  with  your  order  POSTAGE  will  be  PREPAID 

in    U.  S.     Outside  add   15c   per   garment. 

Specify  OLD  or  NEW  Style,  long  or  short  legs  or  sleeves.  Give  these 
MEASL'REMENTS  for  all  styles:  Length,  from  top  of  shoulder  to  inside 
ankle  bone.  Bust:  Around  body  under  arms.  Sleeve:  From  -boulder  seam 
dowu  to  length  desired.     Double  backs  20c  extra  per  Garment. 

APPROVED  LABEL  AND  CORRECT  PATTERNS 

Model  Knitting  Works 

No.  657  Iverson  St.,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


"He's  a  valuable  part  to  a  car?" 
"What  do   you  mean  by   that?" 
"He's  a  nut." — Perrins. 

*  *      *      * 

He:  "Ah,  darling,  as  we  sit  together  under  the  spreading  branches  of  this  noble 
tree,  I  declare  on  my  honor  you  are  the  only  girl  I  have  ever  loved."  . 

She:  "You  always  say  such  appropriate  things,  John.  This  is  a  chestnut 
tree." — L.  F. 

*  *      *      * 

A  farmer  had  just  bought  himself  a  car  after  about  fourteen  years  of  driving 
a  team  and  buggy.  Without  waiting  for  instructions,  he  was  off  in  it.  Swerving 
and  turning,  he  drove  through  town.  A  man  seeing  him  shouted,  "Hey,  why  don't 
you  use  your  noodle?"  The  farmer  answered  excitedly:  "Where  in  heck  is  the 
noodle?  I've  pushed  and  pulled  and  jiggered  everything  on  the  dashboard  and  can't 
stop  it." — L.,  Twin  Falls. 


$15,000  Prize  Campaign 

12  AUTOMOBILES  8  RADIOS 

A  GOLDEN  OPPORTUNITY  YOU  CAN  SHARE 
For  details  and  full  information  call  or  write 

Was.  550  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 


WHEN   WRITING   TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION   THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


New  Classes  being  formed 
every  day 
Enter  Any  Time 


Why  attend  the  L.  D.  S.  Business 

College? 
Best  courses  of  study. 
Best  teachers,  specially  train- 
ed, experienced  and  successful 
Best  methods. 
Best  equipment. 
Best    returns    for    your    time  and  money. 


L.  D.  S.  Business  College 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 
"The  School  of  BEST  Results" 


It  costs  no  more  to  have  your  home  PROPERLY  decorated, 
no  matter  where  you  live,  or  what  your  home  furnishing 
requirements  may  be.  If  not  convenient  to  call  and  talk  to 
our  decorators  just  write  your  problems  to  us,  we  will 
cheerfully  assist  you.  We  are  fully  prepared  to  render  a 
broad  helpful  service  without  cost  or  obligation  to  you. 


ESTABLISHED  1857 

DINWOODEY'S 


"GOOD  FURNITURE  " 
Utah's  oldest  continuous  mercantile  establishment. 


WHEN   WRITING   TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION    THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


$5.00    DOWN 

is  all  you  have  to  pay,  with  balance  in  convenient  monthly 
payments,  to  begin  to  enjoy  the  matchless  aoS  antages  of  an — 

Electric  Range 

You  do  not  need  to  "save  up"  to  have  an  Electric  Range.  Our 
prices  and  terms  make  it  easy  to  have  the  benefits  of  electric 
cooking  out  of  your  regular  household  funds. 

Electric  cooking  is  economical  and  thoroughly  dependable.  It 
is  clean.  It  is  wonderfully  labor-saving.  An  Electric  Range 
is  a  servant  that  belongs  in  every  home. 

Utah  Power  &  Light  Co. 

Efficient  Public  Service 


"I  can't  stand  to  do  this,"  said  the  fat  lady  as  she  tied  her  shoe-lace. — Petrins. 

*  *      * 

Jones  and  Smith  were  contemplating  digging  a  well,  in  order  to  have  sufficient 
water  for  their  two  farms.  Upon  second  thought,  Smith  remarked:  "Say,  Jones,  I 
don't  believe  I'll  need  a  well.  You  see,  there  is  so  much  due  on  my  land  that  it  won't 
be  dry  for  some  time  to  come." — F.  A.  £.,  Utah. 

*  *      * 

Soloing  the  Mystery. — Recently  the  widow  of  a  farmer,  striving  to  keep  the  farm 
going,  had  some  difficulty  with  her  hens,  and  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  De- 
partment  of   Agriculture: 

"Something  is  wrong  with  my  chickens.  Every  morning  when  I  come  out  I  find 
two  or  three  lying  on  the  ground  cold  and  stiff  with  their  feet  in  the  air.  Can  you 
tell  me  what  is  the  matter?" 

After  a   little   while  she   received   the  following  letter   from   the   Department: 

"Dear   Madam:    Your   chickens   are   dead." — Christian   Evangelist. 


SALES-PARTS— SERVICE 

CITY  MOTOR  SALES  CO. 

OPPOSITE  CITY  AND  COUNTY  BUILDING 
WASATCH  843  SALT  LAKE  CITY 


WHEN   WRITING   TO   ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION   THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 


Take  Advantage  of 
Your  Opportunities 

Make  this  mutual  year  more  enjoyable  and  more  profitable  by 
taking  advantage  of  your  opportunities.  Prepare  yourself  to 
meet  the  questions  which  may  arise  in  your  classes  by  reading 
the  reading  course  outlined  for  you  by  the  M.  I.  A.  Board. 

Complete   Course   (Including   Book   of   Mormon) 
Delivered  Anywhere $5.50 

Note:    This  price  for  cash  only.    Remittance  MUST  be  sent 
with  order. 

Deseret  Book  Company 

44  East  on  So.  Temple  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

P.  O.  Box  1793 


Integrity  Inspires  Confidence 

JOSEPH  WILLIAM  TAYLOR 

Utah's  Leading  Undertaker  and  Licensed  Embalmer 

21-25  SOUTH  WEST  TEMPLE 
SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH 

Phones:     Wasatch  7600 
Both  Office  and  Residence 

My  Service  has  the  Little  Marks  of  Difference  that  Make  it  Distinctive 


Fire  Is  No  Respecter  of  Persons 

You  may  wait  till  tomorrow  to  insure — 

but  the  fire  may  not. 

"See  our  agent  in  your  town" 

UTAH  HOME  FIRE  INSURANCE  CO 

HEBER  J.   GRANT  &   CO.,  General   Agents,  Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 


WHEN  WRITING  TO  ADVERTISERS,  PLEASE   MENTION    THE  IMPROVEMENT  BRA 


TRY  OUR  NEW  GASOLINE 

BLU-GREEN 

BOYCE-ITE  Blu-Green  gasoline  is  the  only  carbonless  fuel  in  America 
today.  "Wherever  you  see  Bennett's  Boyce-ite  treated  gasoline  featured  be 
sure  it  is  Blu-Green  in  color — or  don't  accept  it. 

BENNETT'S  SERVICE  STATIONS 


Ask  your  dealer  for  the  famous  Z.  C.  M.  I.  Factory-Made 


Mountaineer 
Overalls 

For  men,  youths,  boys  and  children  9-oz. 
Copper  Riveted 

Waist  Overalls 

For  men  and  boys.  Wear  'em  and  let  'er 
buck 

Guaranteed  For  Quality,  Fit  and  Service 


Allovers  and 
Play  Suits 

For  Children 


SO  MANY  REASONS  WHY 
IT  SHOULD  BE 

E1DCT     WE  ISSUE  THE  BEST  THERE  IS  IN 
rlftdl      LIFE  INSURANCE— 

You  Need  Our  Insurance— 
We  Want  Your   Business 

Beneficial  Life  Insurance  Co.,  Sj^Sy™" 

Hebar  J.  Grant,  President     Lorenzo  N.  Stohl,  Manager     SALT  LAKE  CITY 


3LS